Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 will be open to the public a year from today on March 27, 2008.
BAA, the airport operator responsible for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted among others, has revealed that 90 per cent of the building work has already been completed in preparation for the grand opening next year.
The impressive new building will serve 30 million passengers annually, taking some of the strain away from the four existing terminals.
“For the first time we will have space to breathe in the central terminal area and have a once in a lifetime opportunity to redevelop the rest of the airport and bring it up to a comparable standard to T5,” said Tony Douglas, chief executive of BAA Heathrow.
BAA will begin a rigorous six-month testing period in September this year, when 16,000 people will be enrolled to act as passengers. Airport officials will assess everything from car parking, IT systems, security, check-in and baggage systems, to ensure all operations are in order ahead of April 2007.
British Airways will become the sole airline occupant of the innovative new terminal and chief executive Willie Walsh is enthusiastic about the prospect.
“This is a historic breakthrough which will transform the airport experience for our customers. T5 will mean less queuing, faster baggage systems and better punctuality. For comfort and convenience, it will exceed the best you can find at any other airport,” he insisted.
The structure has been designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership and it is based on a balance of functionality and finesse. It also boasts pioneering technologies, including rainwater harvesting and an energy-efficient heating system. Passengers using T5 will also be able to pay a visit to a branch of the Harrods store and dine in a restaurant run by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Douglas indicates that the entire airport will have been revamped by 2012, returning Heathrow “to its rightful status as the world’s leading international airport”.
