Air quality Heathrow

Air quality information for the Heathrow area. Providing you with air quality information in real time; on how Heathrow is helping to make it better; and pollution alerts if levels exceed government guidelines.

The latest air quality information for the Heathrow area

We have three types of air quality information for the Heathrow area, click on the markers on the map to find out more about what it means to you.

Find out about the different types of information using the links below the map.

Forecast for

Heathrow

Today

Air pollution levels are forecast to be Low today

Tomorrow

Air pollution levels are expected to be Low tomorrow

Outlook

Air pollution levels are expected to be Low beyond tomorrow

Last updated: 4:00 AM on Thu 12th December 2024

Click for a 5 day summary

Our three types of air quality information

Monitoring data

Real-time data collected by Ricardo from monitoring sites in the Heathrow Airwatch monitoring area.

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Forecast data

Air quality forecast information created from a combination of Defra pollution data and Met Office weather forecasts.

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Modelled data

Defra's air quality modelling showing meteorological simulations for the Heathrow area.

View details

How is air quality measured?

Air quality in the four local authorities surrounding Heathrow is measured independently by Ricardo and presented using the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI).

The DAQI is numbered 1-10 and divided into four bands, low (1) to very high (10), to provide detail about air pollution levels in a simple way. This system was recommended by the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) and is applied to monitoring data by Ricardo.

Select each band below to see what they mean for you.

What do the pollution figures above mean? View the categories and indices by air pollutants chart here.

Measured Air Pollutants

The below pollutants are measured in the Heathrow area. Select each one to find out more about them and where they typically come from.

What is Heathrow doing to improve air quality?

Heathrow is working hard to improve the air quality in the local area with the following initiatives.

Reduce emissions from HAL

Increasing low emission fleet vehicles

27% of Heathrow Airport’s own fleet of around 200 vehicles is now electric, with a further 20% Hybrid.

Decarbonising heating supply

To deliver an emission reduction via efficiency and seeking alternative solutions to energy generation.

Progress Air Quality 
Research

Maintain active support for ongoing research and monitoring initiatives regarding ultrafine particulate matter, facilitating advancements in knowledge development and fostering shared experiences among various airports.

Reduce emissions airside

Incentivising use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

In 2022, Heathrow introduced a Sustainable Aviation Fuel incentive programme, which incentivises the use an airplane fuel alternative designed to cut carbon emissions.

Reducing grounded engine use

Heathrow are now supplying power and air conditioning from terminals to reduce use of Auxiliary Power Units and Ground Power Units.

 

They have also redesigned taxiways so that aircraft can travel more directly to stands reducing the use of engines on the ground.

Incentivising airlines to use cleaner planes

Since introducing NOx landing charges in 2004, and subsequent increases in our NOx charges, Heathrow has one of the strongest systems globally, airlines have been incentivised to bring cleaner aircraft to Heathrow and our data shows that these incentives are working.

Improve air quality in the local community​

Improving Public 
Transport

Major investments are being made in the public transport infrastructure servicing Heathrow Airport.

Improving Cycling and walking to work networks

Heathrow are working with neighbouring Local Authorities to connect and build out a cycling network. This is set out in the Heathrow Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, published in April 2023

Continued investment in the Sustainable Travel Zone

In 2022 Heathrow announced the launch of its Sustainable Travel Zone, a network of subsidised travel routes to and from the airport to make it more.

For more information please visit Heathrow 2.0 Sustainability Stategy | Heathrow
A picturn of a plane over water

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