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First passengers use Terminal 5
The first passengers arrive at £4.3 billion Terminal 5 at Heathrow were due in from Hong Kong this morning.
The new generation building will handle more than 40,000 British Airways’ passengers today, marking the start of operations of Heathrow’s new facility.
The terminal will handle 380 flights during the day (190 departures and 190 arrivals). These will be split into 350 short haul and domestic flights and a further 30 long haul flights.
A second phase of BA long haul flights move into Terminal 5 from Terminal 4 on April 30, taking the total number of flights using the new terminal each day to more than 500.
BA had to move more than 1,000 pieces of equipment and aircraft from their old homes in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 into the correct positions at Terminal 5.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: “This is an historic day for British Airways and for UK aviation. Everyone involved in the project should be extremely proud of their achievements in creating this fantastic facility.
“The new terminal gives British Airways a great opportunity to offer the highest levels of service and put Heathrow back on the global travel map.
“I know that our customers will love the space, comfort and convenience that Terminal 5 offers and I believe that people can look forward to a much calmer and more enjoyable way of travelling in the months ahead.”
BAA Heathrow managing director Mark Bullock said: “This is an incredibly exciting day for BAA and one which marks a turning point for Heathrow.
“We have waited over 20 years to welcome passengers to Terminal 5 and during that time Heathrow has got increasingly congested.
“Terminal 5 signifies a new beginning for Heathrow and I am immensely proud that we open the doors of this magnificent building today, exactly when we said we would.”
The start of operations at Terminal 5 signals a new beginning for Heathrow, BAA claims.
It will provide the airport with much needed additional capacity so that the transformation of existing terminal facilities can continue.
Over the next five years, BAA will invest around £4 billion in a development programme that includes closing Terminal 2 and replacing it with a modern, energy efficient terminal.
by Phil Davies
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