Garuda is to operate its Jakarta to Europe route from Amsterdam after pulling out of its proposed Gatwick to Jakarta route.
The Indonesian airline has chosen a European hub airport rather than a point-to-point airport in the UK.
Heathrow airport says that airlines that have been unable to access slots at Heathrow have been unable to sustain long-haul flights at Gatwick.
It says these routes are being lost to the Netherlands and other competing European economies.
Colin Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow Airport said: "A single hub airport is the only way to connect the UK to the fastest growing economies because it’s the only model that can sustain long-haul flights.
"Heathrow doesn’t oppose a second runway at Gatwick which serves predominantly short haul, low cost airlines. But new capacity at Gatwick will not provide the hub capacity needed by network airlines to put on new long haul routes.
"For the UK to compete in the global race for jobs and growth we need a hub airport with direct long-haul connections to the world’s fastest growing economies."
Direct long-haul flights are critical to supporting trade and growth. UK businesses trade 20 times more with emerging markets that have daily flights than those with less frequent or no direct service.
