Star Alliance unveils timetable for Heathrow terminal moves

Star Alliance has outlined the timetable for changes at London Heathrow.

The consolidation, called ‘Move under one Roof’, will take place in phases and will not be completed until 2012.

The first phase of the project is a major overhaul of the current Terminal 1.

Work is underway to demolish the existing check-in islands and create a redesigned check-in hall which will allow both Air New Zealand and United to relocate from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 on June 10.

For departing customers, Star Alliance will open its largest lounge in the entire network in Terminal 1, also in June.

The 1,650 square metre lounge will be for all First and Business Class passengers as well as for Star Alliance Gold Card holders travelling on any of the member carriers from Terminal 1.

The second phase of the move is scheduled for the latter part of 2008 and will coincide with the closure of Terminal 2.

All Star Alliance member airlines presently operating in Terminal 2 – Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, TAP Portugal and regional member carrier Croatia Airlines – are scheduled to move to during October and November.

At the same time, bmi will start making use of a new check-in area featuring a linear layout, compared to the islands currently being used in Terminal 1.

All other Star Alliance member airlines serving Heathrow – Air Canada, Air China, ANA, Blue1, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, THAI and Turkish Airlines – are expected to continue to operate from Terminal 3 until 2012.

In the interim, a number of improvements to Terminal 3 facilities are under way, with more planned over the next couple of years, including refurbishments to check-in, gate areas and lounge facilities.

“Of all our ‘Move under one Roof’ projects, Heathrow is admittedly the most challenging. In an ideal world, we would already like to offer our customers a new, state-of-the art facility today,” said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance.

“But needing to make use of the existing infrastructure, we will only be able to achieve this through a phased approach together with the BAA and our member carriers. The end result will, however, be a completely new customer experience at Heathrow, which will set a new standard for the industry,”

Air Canada
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

Air China
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

Air New Zealand
Now in T3 but moving to T1 on June 10

ANA
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

Asiana Airlines
Now in T1 and not moving

Austrian
Now in T2 but moving to T1 in November 2008

Blue1
Currently not serving Heathrow but will operate from T3 as of March 30 and remain in T3 until 2012

bmi
Now in T1 and not moving

Croatia Airlines
Now in T2 and moving to T1 in November 2008

LOT Polish Airlines
Now in T1 and not moving

Lufthansa
Now in T2 but moving to T1 November 2008

Scandinavian Airlines
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

Singapore Airlines
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

South African Airways
Now in T1 and not moving

SWISS
Now in T2 but moving to T1 in October 2008

TAP Portugal
Now in T2 but moving to T1 in November 2008

THAI
Now in T3 and will remain in T3 until 2012

Turkish Airlines
Now in T3 and wil remain in T3 until 2012

United
Now in T3 but moving to T1 on June 10

US Airways
Currently not serving Heathrow but starting from T1 on March 30

By Bev Fearis

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