Terminal 5 represents massive expansion for Heathrow

The planned opening of Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 building on March 27, 2008 will serve as a welcome relief to the airport, as well as to British Airways which is based there, as

Europe’s main air travel gateway has been operating well above its maximum capacity for years. The new terminal represents a landmark in British commercial aviation history, as the extension will add more than five football fields worth of extra space to the airport. The new terminal’s price tag now stands at around £4.3 billion and over 30 million travelers are expected to pass through it each year.

Representatives of the international media were given a preview and guided tour of the new terminal, over three months before its scheduled grand opening. The terminal consists of eight floors, a total of 96 check-in counters and the ability to sort up to 12,000 pieces of luggage every hour. Terminal 5 is also equipped with many more departure screens than currently used at Heathrow and BA has marked the check-in and departures areas with various signs and beacons, in order to help passengers orientate themselves and make the airport more user friendly.

The vast majority passengers transferring from one BA flight to another (up to 90%, according to one source) will do so at Terminal 5, which means that it will no longer be necessary to catch a bus or a train in order to commute to another terminal. It may, however be necessary for passengers to transit underground from Terminal 5A to 5B, but this trip only takes about 45 seconds.

Passengers interested in going shopping will not be disappointed either, as the new terminal will house 144 shops and restaurants.

www.terminal5.ba.com