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Passengers wait beneath a Heathrow departures board in January 1979. Getty

Dubai International Airport in the 1980s. After a visit to the Gulf in 1981, UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher wrote of how impressed she was with Dubai airport and complained that London Heathrow was dreary in comparison. Photo: Dubai Airport

Passengers waiting in the crowded departure lounge at Terminal Three of London's Heathrow Airport, during delays caused by industrial action taken by Canadian air traffic controllers in August 1981. Getty

The entrance to Heathrow Airport in February 1978, when it was run by the UK state. Getty

Terminal One at Heathrow is deserted during a strike by British Airways maintenance staff in April 1977. Reuters

Escalators at Heathrow Underground at a standstill during strike action by London Transport maintenance engineers in December, 1977. Getty

Passengers asleep in the passenger lounge at Heathrow during delays caused by industrial action by French air traffic controllers. Getty

Cancellations cause crowding at Heathrow in April 1977. Getty

Passengers queue at Heathrow in August 1978. Getty

Weary passengers at Heathrow in 1979. Getty

Passengers wait beneath a Heathrow departures board in January 1979. Getty

Dubai International Airport in the 1980s. After a visit to the Gulf in 1981, UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher wrote of how impressed she was with Dubai airport and complained that London Heathrow was dreary in comparison. Photo: Dubai Airport

Passengers waiting in the crowded departure lounge at Terminal Three of London's Heathrow Airport, during delays caused by industrial action taken by Canadian air traffic controllers in August 1981. Getty

The entrance to Heathrow Airport in February 1978, when it was run by the UK state. Getty

Terminal One at Heathrow is deserted during a strike by British Airways maintenance staff in April 1977. Reuters

Escalators at Heathrow Underground at a standstill during strike action by London Transport maintenance engineers in December, 1977. Getty

Passengers asleep in the passenger lounge at Heathrow during delays caused by industrial action by French air traffic controllers. Getty

Cancellations cause crowding at Heathrow in April 1977. Getty

Passengers queue at Heathrow in August 1978. Getty

Weary passengers at Heathrow in 1979. Getty

Passengers wait beneath a Heathrow departures board in January 1979. Getty

Why Margaret Thatcher preferred Dubai airport to 'frustratingly dour' Heathrow

A note made public from the Iron Lady’s visit in 1981 reveals how unhappy she was with the condition of Britain’s top airport

January 23, 2022

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