Heathrow T2 date set

Wednesday 4 June 2014 is the date set for 23 Star Alliance airlines, plus Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic Little Red and germanwings to move into the brand new £2.5bn Heathrow Terminal 2 facility.

It will be a ‘soft’ opening with just 10% of carriers initially moving across.  Heathrow and the airlines do not want a repeat of the T5 fiasco.  A United Airlines (UA) flight from Chicago is due to be its first arrival.

Mark Schwab, CEO of Star Alliance, says: “Our 23 member carriers at Heathrow generate more than 20% of the airport’s overall traffic.  Hence, it is only logical that we actively participate in the Terminal 2 project which will become our home at Heathrow".  Star member UA is probably the biggest beneficially, its current operations confusingly spread over T1 and T4, the result of the Continental Airlines merger.

Over six months of testing – involving 14,000 people – will take place before Terminal 2 opens, with some 20m passengers a year set to pass through the new building at its peak.  Passenger flow around the terminal has been carefully planned and there will be over 50 shops, 17 bars and restaurants, 60 fast-bag drops, 60 self-service kiosks, 56 traditional check-in desks and 24 security lanes. www.heathrowairport.com

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