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UK. Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 5 opens today in the first and certainly most significant step in the transformation and development of the world’s busiest international airport. [Look out for our report later from Associate Editor Rebecca Mann, currently ‘road testing’ the terminal as a traveller – and a shopper.]
The first passengers will arrive at T5 early this morning on a British Airways flight from Hong Kong, and around 40,000 passengers are expected to pass through the new terminal on the first day alone.
Some 60,000 people have worked a total of 100 million man-hours to build T5 since construction work began in September 2002.
The T5 project team has successfully erected the UK’s biggest free-standing building; moved the 900-tonne top cab of a new 87m high control tower 2km across the airfield; tunnelled over 13km for rail and baggage links; diverted two rivers; and installed over 30,000sq m of glass building facades.
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Sir Nigel Rudd; “T5 will put Heathrow and BAA back where they belong” |
The T5 complex features 60 new aircraft stands; two satellite buildings, the second of which (Phase 2) will be completed by 2010; rail links to London Underground and Heathrow Express; a new multi-storey car park; and extensive landscaping.
Designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership (now Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners) T5 will ultimately provide extra capacity, help cut congestion, and cut transfer times for millions of connecting passengers using Heathrow.
Commenting on the opening, BAA Group Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd said: “Terminal 5 marks the start of a new beginning for Heathrow, for BAA and for our millions of passengers. It is, by any standard, a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will breathe new life into Heathrow, allowing us to continue our transformation of the rest of the airport, and will put Heathrow and BAA back where they belong – at the leading edge of global travel.
“Terminal 5 will be the starting point for many exciting journeys and it will be a place too for many happy reunions, as travellers come home to loved ones. Today, before those journeys begin, we can look and admire a magnificent building – a source of huge pride for BAA as a company, but also for all those individuals who have invested so much of their lives in its creation.”
The new terminal at Heathrow, with British Airways as sole airline occupant, is designed to transform the passenger experience at Heathrow. It offers a simple, stress-free experience through online check-in and fast bag drop facilities, with the benefit of state-of-the-art security and baggage facilities.
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh said: “Terminal 5 is a fantastic facility and our customers will really enjoy the space, comfort and convenience it offers. We have exclusive use of the terminal and that will allow us to greatly improve the levels of service we can offer. The customer experience at T5 will rival, if not exceed, that at any airport in the world.”
“With the opening of T5 British Airways and BAA have an opportunity to make air travel, both into and out of the UK, once again a calmer and much more enjoyable experience. We intend to take full advantage of that opportunity.”
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TERMINAL 5 FACTS
Cost: £4.3 billion
Construction: September 2002 to March 2008
Number of passengers annually: 30 million
Phase 1: opening 2008 Terminal 5A and B
50 aircraft stands (total)
Phase 2: opening 2010 Terminal 5C
60 aircraft stands (total)
Terminal 5A dimensions: 396m long x 176m wide x 40m high
Levels above ground: 4
Terminal 5B dimensions: 442m long x 52m wide x 19.5m high
Levels above ground: 3
Multi-storey car park: 3,800 spaces
Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel: 605 rooms (opens June)
Rail links: Heathrow Express, London Underground Piccadilly Line
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Prepare to be amazed at Heathrow T5 Click the Podcast icon to listen to World Duty Free boss Mark Riches and BAA’s Nick Ziebland and Colin Hargrave discuss the vision and commercial reality of Heathrow T5 To download: right click on the Podcast icon and select ‘Save Target As’ option Click here for more information, instructions and previous Podcasts |
Check-in self service kiosks: 96
Check-in fast bag drops: over 90
Check-in standard desks: 54
Security zones: 2 (north and south)
Security lanes: 20
Baggage reclaim belts: 11
Length of bag conveyers: 17km
No of bags processed per hour: 12,000
Number of lifts: 192
Number of escalators: 105
Number of seats: 9,140 (excluding catering outlets)
Number of toilet blocks: 112
Number of toilets: 800
Number of baby change facilities: 32
Number of retail facilities: 112 (including 25 food & beverage outlets)
Percentage of space given to retail: around 5.5%
MORE STORIES ON HEATHROW TERMINAL 5
Alpha looks forward to a Glorious T5 debut – 14/03/08
World Duty Free revolutionises store experience with new Terminal 5 design concept – 11/03/08
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