The airport has two runways, the Northern Runway which is 3,902 metres by 50 metres and the Southern Runway which is 3,658 metres by 50 metres.

Yes, as of early 2026, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) operates with only two main runways: the Northern Runway (09L/27R) and the Southern Runway (09R/27L). These two runways are used with "High-Fidelity" intensity, handling approximately 1,300 flights per day and making Heathrow the busiest two-runway airport in the world. Because the airport is operating at nearly 99% capacity, there is a long-standing and highly controversial proposal for a Third Runway to the northwest. While the UK government and Heathrow's new CEO, Thomas Woldbye, have signaled a renewed push for expansion in 2026 to stay competitive with hubs like Istanbul (which has five runways), the project remains mired in environmental and legal challenges. Currently, Heathrow manages its "High-Fidelity" traffic through a system of "runway alternation," where one runway is used for takeoffs and the other for landings, switching at 3:00 PM each day to provide noise relief for local residents under the flight paths.