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Terminal 2 closes
Communal facilities for Sky Team in Terminal 4
New eco-friendly terminal for central area
Huge benefits from third runway, says report
Recognition for landscaping work
BAA receive wildlife award
Average business traveller income
Emirates A380 Heathrow unveiled
Sniffer dog on stamps
Baggage system trial
Heathrow expansion proposed
Virgin high-speed check-in
Border staff uniforms now standard
Terminal 2 closes
24 November 2009
Terminal 2 at Heathrow has closed after 54 years of to allow work to begin on the central area £1bn replacement.
The building opened in 1955 and was the airport''s first terminal.
An evening Air France flight to Paris was the final departure from the near-deserted terminal which, over the years, has hosted famous figures including the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor.
Colin Matthews, chief executive of airport operator BAA, said the closure of the terminal is an important step in the modernisation of Heathrow.
He added: 'We look forward to the new Terminal 2 providing a new home for the Star Alliance and a better experience for our passengers, with less impact on the environment.'
Lee Hock Lye, Star Alliance's vice-president of product and services, said: 'The closure and subsequent demolition of Terminal 2 will make way for our new home at Heathrow.
This will finally allow our member carriers to operate under one roof at one of the world's largest aviation hubs.'
Work will begin on the new terminal in 2010, with the project set to be completed in 2014.
Communal facilities for Sky Team in Terminal 4
28 October 2009
Sky Team have opened their new communal lounge and check-in area in Heathrow’s Terminal 4, saying it will be a “template” for the future.
With all the Alliance’s carriers moving to the newly revamped terminal, the new facilities will available to Sky Team passengers irrespective of their route or airline - a theme which they plan to replicate at other airports
“The move to Terminal 4 gives us an opportunity to present ourselves as an Alliance rather than in a fragmented way. This is a template to be used in other parts of the network” Sky Team’s chairman Leo van Wijk told journalists
Travellers with the alliance’s members, which include Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Delta and Aeroflot, will use shared check-in desks, self-service kiosk and bag drop off locations.
Once airside, premium passenger can use the lounge where designers have created a light, airy feel with features such as the ‘living wall’ - a mass of carefully nurtured plants – an oxygen room, a spa and a wine bar.
Sky Team say that the move will bring imroved facilities for passengers and cost saving for its members.
New eco-friendly terminal for central area
10 August 2009
Images of Heathrow’s stunning new central area terminal have been unveiled showing a light, spacious development, similar in concept to Terminal 5.
The £1 billion Terminal 2 will become the new home for Star Alliance airlines and will provide an estimated 20 million passengers every year with a spacious and modern airport facility.
Mike Brown, Heathrow Airport's Chief Operating Officer, said: “These exciting plans will be a reality for millions of Heathrow's passengers, making every passenger journey a better one and underlining Heathrow's pre-eminent position at the heart of international travel and the global economy.
“The new Terminal 2 is part of a major programme of work already underway. Passengers travelling through Heathrow will be using new and extensively refurbished facilities which provide us with an excellent platform from which we can provide a better service to our customers than ever before.”
Star Alliance members include United, Swiss and Thai.
Passengers departing Terminal 2 will find 11,300m2 of floor space, accommodating self-service check-in machines, fast-bag drops, traditional check-in desks and 15 security search lanes.
In a two-level departure lounge, ten-metre high windows will provide excellent views of Heathrow's airfield and the nine new aircraft parking stands, a third of which are configured to accommodate a new generation of aircraft such as the A380.
Terminal 2 will produce 40 per cent less carbon than the buildings it is replacing. Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the building with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting without generating uncomfortable levels of heat in the building. Solar-gathering panels on the roof will further reduce the dependency on energy supplies. Additionally a new energy centre, partially fuelled by renewable resources, will provide heating and cooling for the building.
To minimise disruption to passengers, construction is taking place in two phases. The first stage will see the creation of a terminal building with 180,000m2 of floor space on the site of the existing Terminal 2 and Queen's Building, both buildings are being demolished later this year. Construction on the first phase is due for completion in 2013.
Phase two is scheduled to run consecutively and will extend the new Terminal 2 into the existing Terminal 1 site. This phase, which also includes the construction of a second satellite building, is set to increase the capacity of Terminal 2 to 30 million passengers a year. Terminal 1 will close when phase two is complete in 2019, however it will remain open throughout construction.
Terminal 2 is one element of a £2.2bn investment on the eastern part of the airport. A satellite pier for the new terminal has been under construction since 2008. It is set to provide Heathrow with 16 additional stands and will be connected via an underground link to the main terminal building.
Steven Morgan, BAA Capital Director: “This is an exciting project, for the engineers and builders, and for our airlines and passengers. The challenges are not to be underestimated. We are constructing a significant new building in the middle of one of the world's busiest airports and ensuring the operating airport is not affected is an absolute priority.”
Initial designs were for the new terminal were devised by Foster + Partners and then developed by HETCo; a joint venture between Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O'Rourke.
Huge benefits from third runway, says report
20 July 2009
Delays in expanding Heathrow will cost the UK economy around one billion pounds a year in lost productivity and other benefits, according to a major report from the British Chambers of Commerce
The report, entitled Economic Impacts of Hub Airports, forecasts that building a third runway at the airport would deliver long-term benefits of between £8.6bn and £12.8bn in increased productivity, and approximately £20bn in wider economic benefits, such as higher levels of employment.
Around 60% of this benefit is predicted to be outside London and the South East.
The research, which was conducted by leading economics and transport consultancy Colin Buchanan on behalf of the BCC, says that each year the building of a third runway is delayed the country loses between £900m and £1.1bn.
By reducing delays and increasing the frequency of flights, a third runway would save business passengers time and increase their productivity. Passengers would also benefit from flights to new destinations, removing the need to wait for transfers at airports outside the UK, it says
The wider economic benefits include direct and indirect increases in employment and gains to London as an international business location adding to its ability to recruit highly skilled people from around the world.
The report notes that a key benefit of a hub airport is that it can sustain a large network of routes with far lower levels of traffic than would be needed to support a point to point network of similar size. Heathrow’s transfer passengers mean that UK residents and businesses have access to more direct destinations, more frequent flights and lower fares.
“This comprehensive study clearly outlines the economic benefits of expanding Heathrow – an important part of the debate which too few people fully understand. Connectivity is vital to the UK economy as businesses seek to develop new global opportunities that will allow them to generate wealth and jobs. Without additional capacity at our major hub airport, we will continue to fall behind our Continental competitors” said David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce.
Recognition for landscaping work
23 October 2008
The huge emphasis on landscaping work at Heathrow, particularly on the approach roads, has been recognised with the granting of two prestigious awards.
BAA said they realised that improving the appearance of the roads around Heathrow would enhance the “airport experience” for passengers and staff, and as a result invested in landscaping over the last year.
Recognising the achievement of the project, the landscaping team decided to enter London in Bloom for the first time. They were successful in the London Business Premises category. Terminal 5 also won an Outstanding Landscape Award for the surroundings of the new building.
Paul Green, Landscape Maintenance Manager at Heathrow, said “We are thrilled to be given the prestigious London in Bloom award. This award shows how strongly we feel about improving the surroundings of Heathrow, and is a testament to the hard work of BAA staff and those of our contractors, Glendale, Hasmead and Connaught.
Everyone who uses Heathrow will appreciate their efforts when they come to work, or drive in or out of the airport.
“Air travel often involves spending a great deal of time inside so we’re delighted that the landscaping work has highlighted Heathrow’s green outdoor areas”.
Peter Holman, Executive Trustee of London in Bloom said “BAA demonstrated sterling work in their entry, aiming for long-term improvement in their local environment through planting, floral displays and high levels of cleanliness on the roads around Heathrow Airport. We are delighted and encouraged that the company received the award on their first year of entry.”
The work included the planting of 2500 Drought tolerant Lavendula Hidcote and 500 Lonceria Piliata trees around the tunnel area. In addition 10,000 Mixed species of shrubs were used around the airport on small enhancements and infill planting.
The
BAA said that over the last 2 years 60,000 spring bulbs have been planted around the airport, new seasonal bedding displays were created at the Terminal 4 Welcome roundabout, Hatton Cross, the Police station entrance and Harlington Corner and at Terminal 5, 20,000 trees and over 500,000 shrubs have been planted over the last four years.
BAA receive wildlife award
17 October 2008
BAA has been rewarded for its conservation efforts around the airport by being awarded a nationally-recognised accreditation from The Wildlife Trusts.
Heathrow's operator has proved that its dedication to looking after and overseeing the protection of local wildlife and the environment is of paramount importance by being given a Biodiversity Benchmark award. The presentation was made on 9 October at the Causeway Nature Reserve in Bedfont by The Wildlife Trust's corporate relations manager Howard Park. Shaun Cowlam, logistics director for BAA, recieved the award on the company's behalf.
Average business traveller income
15 October 2008
Business travellers using Heathrow airport have an average income of £83,000, according to a new survey by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The figure compares with incomes of £69,000 at Luton, £66,000 at Manchester, £64,000 at Gatwick and £40,000 at Humberside.
CAA’s 2007 Air Passenger Survey reveals that 36%of all passengers using Heathrow were business travellers, the highest proportion recorded of any of the eight airports included in the survey. This proportion compared with 24% at Humberside, 21% at Luton, 19% at Stansted and 6% at Doncaster Sheffield.
The survey collated the responses of more than 210,000 departing air passengers at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Doncaster Sheffield, Humberside, Liverpool and Manchester.
Emirates unveils new Airbus A380 model
23 July 2008
Dubai-based carrier Emirates today unveiled its new Airbus A38O model at the Heathrow roundabout entrance after an exhaustive and ambitious 18 month project.
The new A380 replaces the old British Airways Concorde model which stood at the airport entrance for a number of years thus becoming an iconic symbol of the UK's supersonic jet age which ended in November 2003 with Concorde's retirement.
Emirates' president Tim Clark said, "The gateway to the world’s busiest international airport is a fitting home for Emirates. We expect this landmark site to become an icon for both Heathrow and Emirates. While the previous Concorde model represented the past, our A380 represents the future – and it is a future of cleaner, quieter aircraft."
The one third-scale model was flown in ten component parts to Heathrow on July 5 with the replica being built by US-based Penwal at its manufacturing base in California over a six month period, using plans provided by the A380’s manufacturer, Airbus in Toulouse.
Duncan Garrood, Commercial Director of BAA, which owns the site, said: “The Emirates Roundabout at Heathrow is one of the most high profile advertising sites in the UK. Over 55,000 vehicles a day and approximately 25 million passengers a year, pass this site. BAA are absolutely delighted to be working with one of our key business partners, Emirates, to produce a model of what we believe, is one of the most iconic images of 21st century air travel, the A380.”
Sniffer dog on stamps
15 February 2008
A Heathrow sniffer dog is featured a new royal mail postage stamp.
Springer spaniel Max specialises in sniffing out smuggled currency and appears in a series of stamps about working dogs.
Max, who recently retired with a medical condition, has discovered over £3 million in currency during his career including one particular find of 390,000 US dollars. He was trained in 2004 to target money launderers and counterfeit smugglers.
“It’s easy to forget that there’s a secret army of thousands of hardworking dogs who make a real difference to many lives. I hope this issue will help raise the profile of their important work” said Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps for Royal Mail.
Baggage system trial
14 February 2008
Radio monitored labels are being tested on baggage at Heathrow to see whether the system can be introduced throughout the airport.
The six month trial is being concentrated on Emirates flights to Dubai. BAA are hopeful the system will revolutionise the way bags are tracked and monitored at the airport.
Under the new scheme, RFID (radio frequency identification) labels are added at check-in and sensors can identify their progress.
The existing barcode labels require a clear line of sight - bringing an element of ooccasional misreading which can add delay and cost.
"This trial enables us to embrace the latest technology for the benefit of our customers. The volume of baggage processed at airports is increasing with more people around the world flying each year and it is important to Emirates that we look at innovation and using new baggage handling and tracking systems to help give that extr4a level of rassurance for our customers " said Vic Sheppard, Emirates Vice President UK and Ireland.
Heathrow expansion proposed
23 November 2007
A huge expansion of Heathrow including an additional runway and a new terminal building was given a boost as the government launched a consultation process into the plan.
Under the scheme, which as been backed by the government, airlines and business organisations, the airport would have a new, short runway by 2020 and would see a substantial development of land north of the existing site. Existing runways would have mixed-mode take off and landings, increasing capacity.
Stephen Nelson, chief executive of BAA, said: "This consultation spells good news for passengers. Heathrow is full and its dependence on two runways, while European competitors have four or five, causes delays, stacks and crawling taxiway queues. The cost of this congestion can be measured economically and environmentally.
"More efficient, or mixed-mode, use of the existing runways would allow us to cut delays at a stroke, while a third runway will mean we can add new destinations to the UK's global reach. There will be no more noise overall from the airport, better air quality, and improved public transport links."
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said: 'We are committed to ensuring that growth is sustainable. By the time a third runway becomes operational, aviation emissions will have been capped by the EU for several years.
"If airlines want to fly more, they will have to pay for emissions reductions in other industries - so overall CO2 in the atmosphere will not rise because of a third runway."
Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "Limiting growth at Heathrow wouldn't prevent climate change because that growth would only go elsewhere.
"It would only serve to damage the UK's competitiveness, as well as limit the choice available to the huge number of people living in London who want to travel to visit friends and family. We rely on air travel to connect people and places on a wider scale."
Virgin high-speed check-in
17 October 2007
Virgin Atlantic has launched what it claims to be the world’s fastest airport check-in area in Heathrow’s Terminal 3.
Premium passengers will be dropped-off at the dedicated facility, called the Upper Class Wing, and then enter the airport through a single security channel, reserved for the airline’s customers.
It says that passengers can travel from ‘limo to lounge’ in under ten minutes. Travellers who make their own way to the main terminal can reach the area through a priority lift.
“This is going to take off the pressure and strain of getting through the airport” said the airline's chief executive Steve Ridgway as he launched the facility. It will be fully operational on November 2. Virgin expects around 80 per cent of its passengers to use self-serve or online check-in by the end of next year.
He added that it would prove a ‘wow’ with passengers, especially as the central terminal area would be a lot less congested next year with the opening of Terminal 5.
“BAA has exciting plans for Terminal 3 and Virgin Atlantic’s new Upper Class Wing is a fantastic addition to Heathrow” said Mark Bullock. BAA Heathrow’s managing director.
Border staff uniforms now standard
5 October 2007
Uniformed border control officers have now become standard at Heathrow following the completion of a roll-out announced in summer..
The new uniforms of dark blue suits and light blue shirts, together with clearer signage, will make it clearer to arriving passengers that they are entering UK territory, say the Home Office.
"Strong borders are a vital national line of defence against terrorism and crime. That's why we have increased immigration policing and and, through the rollout of uniforms and signage, are creating a single, highly-visible presence at the border" said Brodie Clark, Director of Border Control.
"Initital feedback from staff and the travelling public towards the uniforms has been very positive and this is an important step forward" he said.
Link: Video of new uniforms in use
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