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Heathrow Terminal 5 to open six months from today
BAA has recruited 15,000 passengers to test facilities at £4.3 billion Heathrow Terminal 5 which opens on March 27, 2008 – six months from today (Thursday).
They are giving a trial to “every aspect” of the new building, including car parking, check-in, baggage systems, way-finding and security, according to the airport’s operator.
The company has also showcased a next generation of security screening equipment called Smiths aTiX X-Ray machines.
The new aTiX machines will be in addition to extensive use of state-of-the-art check-in kiosks which BAA claims will cut queues while faster, more advanced baggage systems will meaner better punctuality and reliability.
British Airways, which will use the new terminal, is moving towards 80% of passengers using online check-in or using a self service kiosk when they arrive at the airport.
This year, 68 million passengers will fly through Heathrow, using terminal facilities designed to accommodate 45 million people, according to BAA.
When Terminal 5 opens, 30 million passengers will move out of existing terminals, giving a “once in a life-time opportunity” to redevelop the rest of the airport.
BAA is redeveloping Terminal 3 and will modernise Terminals 1 and 4 when Terminal 5 opens. Planning permission has also been received to build a new, “environmentally-efficient” terminal called Heathrow East (replacing Terminal 2 and The Queens Building).
CEO Stephen Nelson said: “By 2012, we could have effectively created a new airport for London, with the majority of our passengers travelling through facilities that are not operational today.”
The Terminal 5 complex features 60 new aircraft stands; two satellite buildings – the second to be completed by 2010 – extensions of the London Underground and Heathrow Express; a new multi-storey car park and control tower.
Retailers signed up for Terminal 5 include Harrods, Paul Smith, and Tiffany and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is opening his first airport-based restaurant there.
Nelson added: “Terminal 5 will redefine the passenger experience at Heathrow, in terms of customer service and improved facilities. It is an enormous step forward in the transformation of the airport and will significantly reduce congestion around the existing infrastructure.”
by Phil Davies
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