Heathrow Airport
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Heathrow_Airport".

London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL), located in London, England, is the principal and biggest airport serving the United Kingdom. Heathrow is the world's third busiest airport for passenger traffic, and handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the world.^[2] Heathrow is owned and operated by BAA, which also owns/operates six other UK airports^[3] and is itself owned by an international consortium led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group.^[4] Heathrow is the primary hub of British Airways, BMI and Virgin Atlantic.

Located 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, England, Heathrow has two parallel main runways running east-west and five terminals. The site covers 12.14 square kilometres (4.69 square miles). Terminal 5 was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 March 2008 and opened to passengers on 27 March 2008. Construction of Heathrow East to replace Terminal 2 and The Queen's Building is planned to start in 2008 and be completed by 2012, and Terminals 3 and 4 will be refurbished during this period.^[5] In November 2007 a consultation process began for the building of a new third runway.

Heathrow Airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P527) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.^[6]

Location

Heathrow

The location of Heathrow airport within Greater London

Qantas Boeing 747-400 descending near London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow is located 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, England, near the southern end of the London Borough of Hillingdon and in the historic county of Middlesex. The airport stands on a parcel of land that was designated part of the London Metropolitan Green Belt. To the north, the airport is surrounded by the built-up areas of Harlington, Harmondsworth, Longford and Cranford. To the east are Hounslow and Hatton, and to the south are East Bedfont and Stanwell. To the west, the M25 motorway separates the airport from Colnbrook in Berkshire.

The location of the airport to the west of London, and the east-west orientation of its runways, means that airliners usually approach to land directly over the city. Other leading European airports such as those at Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris were located north or south of their cities to minimise the overflying problem.

Another disadvantage of the site is that it is low lying, at 83 feet (25 m) above sea level, and so is prone to fog.^{citation needed}

Heathrow is one of six airports serving the London area, along with Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend and City although only Heathrow and City airports are located within Greater London.

History

1930s and 1940s

Aviation at the location of what is now Heathrow Airport began during World War I when the site was used as a military airfield. By the 1930s the airfield, then known as the Great Western Aerodrome, was privately owned by Fairey Aviation Company and was used for aircraft assembly and testing.^[7] Commercial traffic used Croydon Airport which was London's main airport at the time.

In 1943 Heathrow came under the control of the Ministry of Air to be developed as a Royal Air Force transfer base.^[7][8] Construction of runways began in 1944 on land that was originally acquired from the vicar of Harmondsworth. The new airport was built by Wimpey Construction^[9] and named after the hamlet Heath Row which was demolished to make way for the airport, and was located approximately where Terminal 3 now stands.^[10]

The Royal Air Force never made use of the airport, and following the end of World War II control was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 1 January 1946. The first civil flight that day was to Buenos Aires, via Lisbon for refuelling. The airport opened fully for civilian use on 31 May 1946 and by 1947 Heathrow had three runways, with three more under construction. These older runways, built for the piston-engined planes of that era, were each slightly longer than a mile in length, arranged in a 6-point star pattern to allow for all wind conditions.

1950s and 1960s

Heathrow in the 1960s

In 1953, the first slab of the first modern runway was ceremonially placed by Queen Elizabeth II. She also opened the first permanent terminal building, the Europa Building (now known as Terminal 2), in 1955. On 1 April 1955, a new 38.8 metre control tower designed by Frederick Gibberd was opened, replacing the original RAF control tower.

The Oceanic Terminal (renamed as Terminal 3 in 1968) opened on 13 November 1961 to handle flight departures for long-haul routes.^[11] At this time the airport had a direct helicopter service from central London and gardens on the roof of the terminal building.^[12] By the time Terminal 1 was opened in 1968, completing the cluster of buildings at the centre of the airport site, Heathrow was handling 14 million passengers annually.

The location of the original terminals in the centre of the site has since become a constraint to expansion. The decision to locate them here reflected an early assumption that airline passengers would not require extensive car parking, as air travel was then only affordable to the wealthy - who would be chauffeur-driven.^[13]

In the late 1960s a 160 acres (0.6 km²) cargo terminal was built to the south of the southern runway, connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by a tunnel.

1970s to 1990s

The centralised waiting area at London Heathrow airport's terminal 3

In 1970 Terminal 3 was expanded with the addition of an arrivals building. Other facilities were also added, including the UK's first moving walkways.^[14] Heathrow's two main runways, 9L-27R and 9R-27L, were also extended to their current lengths in order to accommodate new large jets such as the Boeing 747. The other runways were closed to facilitate terminal expansions, except for Runway 23 which was preserved for crosswind landings until 2002.

In 1977, the London Underground was extended to Heathrow; connecting the airport with Central London in just under an hour via the Piccadilly line. On 23 June 1998 the Heathrow Express train was inaugurated, providing a direct rail service to London's Paddington station via a specially constructed line between the airport and the Great Western Main Line.

Terminal 4 arrivals

Continued growth in passenger numbers to 30 million annually by the early 1980s led to the need for more terminal space. Terminal 4 was constructed to the south of the southern runway next to the existing cargo terminal, away from the three older terminals, and was connected with Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by the already-existing Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. Terminal 4 was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in April 1986, and became the home for then newly-privatised British Airways.

In 1987, the British government privatised the British Airports Authority (now known as "BAA Limited") which controls Heathrow^[15] as well as six other UK airports.^[16]

During the 1980s and 1990s, since privatisation BAA has expanded the proportion of terminal space allocated to retailing activities and invested in the development of retail activity. This has included expanding terminal areas to provide more shops and restaurants, and routing passengers through shops to maximise their exposure to the retail offer.

Accidents and incidents

• On 3 March 1948 Sabena Douglas DC3 Dakota OO-AWH crashed in fog. Three crew and 19 of the 22 passengers died.^[17]
• On 31 October 1950 British European Airways Vickers Viking G-AHPN crashed at Heathrow after hitting the runway during a go-around. Three crew and 25 passengers died.^[18]
• On 1 August 1956 XA897 an Avro Vulcan strategic bomber of the Royal Air Force crashed at Heathrow after an approach in bad weather. The Vulcan was the first to be delivered to the RAF and was returning from a demonstration flight to Australia and New Zealand. The pilot and co-pilot ejected and survived but the four other occupants were killed.
• On 27 October 1965 BEA Vickers Vanguard G-APEE flying from Edinburgh crashed on Runway 28R (now 27R) while attempting to land in poor visibility. All 30 passengers and six crew on board died.^[19]
• On 8 April 1968 BOAC Flight 712 Boeing 707 G-ARWE, departing to Australia via Singapore, had an engine fire just after take-off. The engine fell from the wing into a nearby gravel pit in Staines, before the plane managed to perform an emergency landing with the wing on fire. The plane burnt out on the ground. Five people, four passengers and a stewardess, died; 122 survived. Barbara Harrison, a flight attendant on board who helped with the evacuation, was posthumously awarded the George Cross.^[20][21]
• On 3 July 1968 G-AMAD an Airspeed Ambassador of BKS Air Transport dropped a wing during approach, causing the aircraft to contact the grass and swerve towards the terminal building. It hit two parked British European Airways Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft, burst into flames and came to rest against the ground floor of the terminal building. Six of the eight crew died and eight horses onboard died. Trident G-ARPT was written off^[22] and Trident G-ARPI was badly damaged, but repaired, only to be lost in the Staines crash in 1972.
• On 18 June 1972 G-ARPI operating as BEA548 crashed in a field close to the Crooked Billet public house, Staines, two minutes after taking off. All 118 passengers and crew on board died.
• On 5 November 1997 a Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A340-300 G-VSKY made an emergency landing with an undercarriage malfunction. Part of the undercarriage collapsed on landing and both aircraft and runway were damaged. Recommendations made as a result of the accident included one that aircraft cabin door simulators should more accurately reproduce operating characteristics in an emergency and for cockpit voice recorders to have a two hour duration in aircraft registered before April 1998.^[23]
• On 17 January 2008 a British Airways Boeing 777-236ER (G-YMMM) operating flight number BA038 from Beijing to London crash-landed at Heathrow. The aircraft landed on grass short of the south runway, 27L, slid to the edge of the runway, and stopped on the threshold. News pictures showed the undercarriage collapsed and the left wing visibly damaged. Eighteen minor injuries were confirmed with 13 people being admitted to hospital and Runway 27L was closed for a short time. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined and is being investigated by the AAIB, but a preliminary report issued by the AAIB at 12:42 GMT on 18 January 2008 stated that the engines had failed to respond to the flight crew's input 2 miles (3.2 km) from touchdown and at an altitude of 600 feet (180 m).^[24][25]

Terrorism and security incidents

• On 8 June 1968, James Earl Ray, the man who had assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr. was captured and arrested at Heathrow Airport while trying to leave the United Kingdom on a false Canadian passport, and thus escape officials in the United States.^{citation needed}
• On 19 May 1974, the IRA planted a series of bombs in the Terminal 1 car park injuring two people.^[26]
• On 26 November 1983 the Brinks Mat robbery occurred, when 6,800 gold bars worth nearly £26 million were taken from the Brink's Mat vault near Heathrow. Only a fraction of the gold was ever recovered and only two men were convicted of the crime.^[27]
• On 17 April 1986 semtex explosives were found in the bag of a pregnant Irishwoman attempting to board an El Al flight. The explosives had been given to her by her Jordanian boyfriend and father of their unborn child Nizar Hindawi, and the incident became known as the Hindawi Affair.^[28]
• In 1994, over a six day period, Heathrow was targeted three times (8 March, 10 March and 13 March) by the IRA, who fired 12 mortars. Heathrow was a symbolic target due to its importance to the UK economy and the disruption caused when areas of the airport were closed over the period. Coverage of the incident was heightened by the fact that the Queen was being flown back to Heathrow by the RAF on 10 March.^[29]

Concorde G-BOAB in storage at London Heathrow Airport following the end of all Concorde flying. This aircraft flew for 22,296 hours between first flight in 1976 and grounding in 2000. The control tower is in the background

• In March 2002, thieves stole US $3 million that had arrived on a South African Airways flight.^[30]
• In February 2003, the British Army was deployed to Heathrow, with 1,000 extra police officers, due to intelligence reports that al-Qaeda terrorists might launch surface-to-air missile attacks at British or American airliners.^[31]
• Scotland Yard's Flying Squad foiled an attempt by seven men to steal £40 million in gold bullion and a similar quantity of cash from the Swissport warehouse at Heathrow on 17 May 2004.
• On 10 August 2006, the airport became the focus of changes in security protocol following the revelation of a supposedly al-Qaeda based 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot. New rules were put in force immediately with lengthy delays and inconvenience to passengers. These included the prohibition of carry-on luggage (except essential items such as travel documents and medication) and all liquids - although this was later relaxed to allow medications, as well as baby milk - provided both were tasted first by the passenger at the security checkpoint.^{citation needed}
• On 25 February 2008, Greenpeace activists protesting against the planned third runway managed to cross the tarmac and climb on top of a British Airways Airbus A320 which had just arrived from Manchester Airport. At about 09:45 GMT the protestors unveiled a banner over the aircraft's tailfin stating "Climate Emergency - No Third Runway" and by 11:00 GMT four arrests had been made.^[32]
• On March 13, 2008 a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence onto runway 27R and ran across the grounds, resulting in his subsequent arrest. A controlled explosion of his bag took place, although nothing suspicious was found and the Metropolitan Police said that the incident was not terrorism related.^[33]

Heathrow today

Heathrow Airport is used by over 90 airlines which fly to 170 destinations worldwide. The airport is the primary hub of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and a major hub for bmi.

Of Heathrow's 67 million annual passengers, 11% travel to UK destinations, 43% are short-haul international travellers, and 46% are long-haul. The busiest single destination in terms of passenger numbers is New York, with over 3.4 million passengers travelling between Heathrow and JFK / Newark airports in 2006. ^[34] The airport has five passenger terminals (Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and a cargo terminal. Terminal 5 opened to passengers on 27 March 2008 and will be fully completed with the opening of its second satellite building in 2010.^[35]

The Heathrow Academy

Originally, Heathrow had six runways, arranged in three pairs at different angles, with the passenger terminal in the centre. With growth in the required length for runways, Heathrow now has just two parallel runways running east-west. Runway 23, a short runway for use in strong south-westerly winds, was decommissioned in 2005 and now forms part of a taxiway. The Department for Transport has issued a 'consultation document' in which one option is the construction of a third parallel east-west runway for frequent use, involving the demolition of residential areas.

In 2006, the new £105 million Pier 6 was completed at Heathrow's Terminal 3 ^[36] in order to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo, providing four new aircraft stands. Other modifications totalling in excess of £340 million ^[36] have also been carried out across the airfield in readiness for the Airbus A380, and the newly opened Terminal 5 is also fully compatible with the A380. The first A380 test flight into Heathrow took place on 18 May 2006,^[37] but following delays to the aircraft's production, scheduled services did not commence from Heathrow until 18 March 2008, when Singapore Airlines flight SQ308 touched down from Singapore carrying 470 passengers, marking the first ever European commercial flight by the Airbus A380.^[36]

A new 87 metres (285 ft) high £50 million air traffic control tower entered service on 21 April 2007, and was officially opened on 13 June 2007 by Secretary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander.

Heathrow Airport has Anglican, Catholic, Free Church, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish Chaplains. There is a multi-faith prayer room and counselling room in each terminal, in addition to St. George's Interdenominational Chapel which is located in an underground bunker adjacent to the old Control Tower, where Christian services take place. The chaplains organise and lead prayers at certain times in the prayer room. There is an Anglican Service every Tuesday and Wednesday, daily Catholic Mass and Free Church prayers in the Chapel.

Heathrow's facilities were designed to accommodate either 45 or 55 million passengers annually according to BAA (55 million the figure presented to the T5 Inquiry, 45 million the figure used for the consultation into the third runway). With numbers now approaching 70 million and runway utilisation averaging 98%, it is difficult for existing airlines to obtain landing slots to enable them to increase their services from the airport, or for new airlines to start operations.^[38] For the same reason the airport has become crowded and subject to delays, for which it has been criticised in recent years^[39] and in 2007 the airport was voted the world's least favourite alongside Chicago O'Hare in a TripAdvisor survey.^[40]

Operations

A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-300 seen near Heathrow

Aircraft destined for Heathrow usually enter its airspace via one of four main 'reporting points': Bovingdon (BNN) over Hertfordshire, Lambourne (LAM) over Essex, Biggin Hill (BIG) over Bromley and Ockham (OCK) over Surrey.^[41] Each is defined by a VOR radio-navigational beacon. When the airport is busy, aircraft will orbit in the associated holds. These reporting points/holds lie respectively to the north-west, north-east, south-east and south-west of the London conurbation.

Air traffic controllers at Heathrow Approach Control (based in Swanwick, Hampshire) then guide the aircraft to their final approach, merging aircraft from the four holds into a single stream of traffic, sometimes as close as 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) apart. Considerable use is made of continuous descent approach techniques to minimise the environmental effects of incoming aircraft, particularly at night.^[42] Once an aircraft is established on its final approach, control is handed over to Heathrow Tower.

Because aircraft generate significantly more noise on departure than when landing, there is a preference for "westerly operations" during daytime operations.^[43] In this mode aircraft depart towards the west and approach from the east over London, thereby minimising the noise impact to the most densely populated areas. Heathrow's two runways generally operate in 'segregated mode' whereby arriving aircraft are allocated to one runway and departing aircraft to the other. To further reduce noise nuisance to people beneath the approach and departure routes, the use of runways 27R and 27L is swapped at 3 pm each day, when the wind is from the west. When easterly landings are in progress there is no alternation; 09L remains the landing runway and 09R the departure runway due to the Cranford protocol. Occasionally landings are allowed on the nominated departure runway, to help reduce airborne delays and to position landing aircraft closer to their terminal, thus reducing taxi times.

Night-time flights at Heathrow are subject to restrictions. Between 11.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. the noisiest aircraft (rated QC/8 and QC/16) cannot be scheduled to operate at all. In addition, between 11.30 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. (the night quota period) there are three limits:

• A limit on the number of flights allowed;
• A Quota Count system which limits the total amount of noise permitted, but allows operators to choose to operate fewer noisy aircraft or a greater number of quieter planes;^[44]
• A voluntary ban on QC/4 aircraft.

Security

Policing of the airport is the responsibility of the aviation security unit of the Metropolitan Police, however the army, including armoured vehicles of the Household Cavalry, has occasionally been deployed to the airport during periods of heightened security. Heathrow's reputation for thefts has led to it sometimes being referred to as 'Thiefrow'.^[45]

Regulation

Further information: Landing slots

British Airways aircraft at Terminal 4

As BAA owns London's three major airports^[46] and therefore has a monopolistic position, the amount it is allowed to charge airlines to land aeroplanes at Heathrow is heavily regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Until 1 April 2003, the annual increase in landing charge per passenger was capped at inflation minus 3%. From 2003 to 2007, charges increased by inflation plus 6.5% per year, taking the fee to £9.28 per passenger in 2007. In March 2008, the CAA announced that the charge would be allowed to increase by 23.5% to £12.80 from 1 April 2008, and by inflation plus 7.5% for each of the following four years.^[47]

In addition, air traffic between Heathrow and the United States is strictly governed by the countries' bilateral Bermuda II treaty. The treaty originally allowed only British Airways, Pan Am, and TWA to fly from Heathrow to the US. In 1991 PAA and TWA sold their rights to United Airlines and American Airlines respectively, and Virgin Atlantic was added to the list of airlines allowed to operate on these routes. In 2002, American Airlines and British Airways announced plans to coordinate the scheduling of their trans-Atlantic routes but plans were dropped after the United States Department of Transportation made approval conditional on the granting of further access slots to Heathrow to other US airlines. American Airlines and British Airways considered the slots too valuable and dropped the plans.^[48] The Bermuda bilateral agreement conflicts with the Right of Establishment of the United Kingdom in terms of its membership in the EU, and as a consequence the UK was ordered to drop the agreement in 2004. A new "open skies" agreement was signed by the United States and the European Union on 30 April 2007, and came into effect on 30 March 2008.

Whilst the cost of landing at Heathrow is determined by the CAA and BAA, the allocation of landing slots to airlines is carried out by Airport Co-ordination Limited (ACL).

Traffic and statistics

Queue of aircraft for take-off including jets from Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air India, and bmi

The operator of Heathrow, BAA, claims that Heathrow is the "world's busiest international airport",^[49] but Heathrow is only the world's third-busiest airport by total passenger traffic, after Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson and Chicago O'Hare, which are also international airports. However, Heathrow has the highest number of international passengers.

In 2006 Heathrow was the busiest airport in Europe in terms of total passenger traffic (18.8% more passengers than at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and 27.9% more than at Frankfurt International Airport),^[50] but it was third behind Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt in terms of plane movements (11.9% fewer landings and take offs than at Charles de Gaulle, and 2.5% fewer than at Frankfurt).^[51] Heathrow airport was fourth in terms of cargo traffic (36.9% less cargo than at Charles de Gaulle, 36.8% less than at Frankfurt, and 14.2% less than at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport).^[52]

With only two runways operating at over 98% of their capacity, Heathrow has little room for growth. In order to increase traffic, BAA has proposed using the existing two runways in 'mixed mode' whereby aircraft would be allowed to take-off and land on the same runway.^[53] This would increase the airport's capacity from its current 480,000 movements per year to as many as 550,000 according to British Airways CEO Willie Walsh.^[54] BAA has also proposed to build a third runway to the north of the airport, which would significantly increase traffic capacity (see Future expansion below).^[55]

In the short term the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 will relieve pressure on terminal facilities, allowing modest growth from the use of larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380. However with passenger traffic at Charles de Gaulle growing by 5.8% to 59.3 million during the 12 months to September 2007, compared with Heathrow's fall of 0.4% to 67.6 million during the same period,^[56] it is possible that CDG ---- with its four runways operating at only 73.5% capacity ---- could overtake Heathrow by 2010.^[57]

American Airlines Boeing 777 landing at Heathrow

Busiest International Routes out of London Heathrow Airport (2007)^[58]

Rank	Airport	Passengers handled	% Change
1	John F. Kennedy International Airport	2,839,221	▲3.16
2	Dublin Airport	1,974,169	▼0.84
3	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol	1,799,214	▼2.54
4	Charles de Gaulle International Airport	1,789,538	▼9.19
5	O'Hare International Airport	1,604,770	▲5.51
6	Dubai International Airport	1,571,472	▲14.33
7	Hong Kong International Airport	1,453,229	▲2.57
8	Frankfurt Airport	1,449,577	▼4.20
9	Los Angeles International Airport	1,405,694	▼1.70
10	Madrid Barajas International Airport	1,180,326	▲5.33
11	Singapore Changi Airport	1,074,672	▼1.07
12	Munich Airport	1,067,237	▲3.84
13	Washington Dulles International Airport	1,054,834	▲1.40
14	San Francisco International Airport	1,032,103	▲0.41
15	Toronto Pearson International Airport	1,023,559	▼2.10

Terminals

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 was opened in 1968 and was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1969. In 2005, a substantial redesign and redevelopment of Terminal 1 was completed, which saw the opening of the new Eastern Extension, doubling the departure lounge in size and creating additional seating and retail space. Terminal 1 handles most of Heathrow's domestic and Irish routes along with some long haul routes and European routes.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is Heathrow's oldest terminal and was opened as the Europa Building in 1955. Terminal 2, as well as the adjacent Queens Building, will close in 2008 after the opening of Terminal 5, to allow for the construction of the new Heathrow East terminal. According to BAA, Terminal 2 will be demolished in 2009. Terminal 2 handles mainly European routes.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 was opened as The Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961 to handle flight departures for long-haul routes.^[11] At this time the airport had a direct helicopter service to Central London from the gardens on the roof of the terminal building. The Oceanic Terminal was renamed as Terminal 3 in 1968 and was expanded in 1970 with the addition of an arrivals building. Other facilities were also added, including the UK's first moving walkways. In 2006, the new £105 million Pier 6 was completed^[36] in order to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo; Singapore Airlines now operate regular flights from Terminal 3 using the Airbus A380.

Redevelopment of Terminal 3's forecourt by the addition of a new four lane drop-off area and a large pedestrianised plaza, complete with canopy to the front of the terminal building was completed in 2007; these improvements were intended to improve passengers' experiences, reduce traffic congestion and improve security. BAA also have plans for a £1bn upgrade of the rest of the terminal over the next ten years.^[59]

Terminal 4

Terminal 4 was constructed to the south of the southern runway next to the existing cargo terminal, away from the three older terminals, and was connected with Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by the already-existing Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. Terminal 4 was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in April 1986, and became the home for then newly-privatised British Airways.

Terminal 4 will also benefit from a major upgrade to its existing facilities. As part of the redevelopment of Terminal 4, the amount of natural light entering the building will be assessed and the check-in facilities and airside departure lounge will also be upgraded.^[59] Work is now underway on a complete refurbishment and modernisation of Terminal 4's forecourt to improve passengers' experiences, reduce traffic congestion and improve security.

A British Airways Boeing 747 at Terminal 4 waiting to depart.

Heathrow's Layout in 2006

Terminal 5

See also: Heathrow Terminal 5 building

The possibility of a fifth terminal at Heathrow emerged as early as 1982, when there was debate over whether the expansion of Stansted or the expansion of Heathrow (advocated by BA) was the way forward for the UK aviation industry.^[60] Richard Rogers was selected to design the terminal in 1989 and BAA formally announced its proposal for T5 in May 1992, submitting a formal planning application on 17 February 1993.^[61][62] A public inquiry into the proposals began on 16 May 1995 and lasted nearly four years, finally ending after sitting for 525 days on 17 March 1999.^[63][64] Finally on 20 November 2001, more than eight years after the initial planning application, then-transport minister Stephen Byers announced the British government's decision to grant planning permission for the building of a fifth passenger terminal at Heathrow.

Terminal 5 under construction in July 2006

Built at a cost of £4.3 billion, the new terminal is located on the western side of the airport on the site of the former Perry Oaks sewage works, between the northern and southern runways. The four storeys of the main terminal building (Concourse A) are covered by a single-span undulating steel frame roof, stretching 90 metres (295 ft) from east to west. In addition to the main terminal building, there are also two satellite buildings linked to the main terminal by an underground people mover transit system. The first satellite (Concourse B) includes dedicated aircraft stands for the Airbus A380; Concourse C is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2010.^[35] In total, Terminal 5 has 60 aircraft stands and capacity for 30 million passengers annually; this will enable Heathrow to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, up from its previous figure of 68 million (compared with a design capacity of 45 million). There are more than 100 shops and restaurants.^[65]

The transport network around the airport has been extended to cope with the increase in passenger numbers. A dedicated motorway spur has been built from the M25 between junctions 14 and 15 to the terminal, which includes a 3,800 space multi-storey car park. A more distant long-stay car park for business passengers will be linked to the terminal by a personal rapid transit system, which will open in 2009.^[66] New branches of both the Heathrow Express and the Underground's Piccadilly Line serve a new shared Heathrow Terminal 5 station, which also has space for a third pair of tracks for future additional rail services. BAA are currently consulting on the route of a new rail link, called Heathrow Airtrack, to Staines High Street and through direct services to Reading, Guildford and London Waterloo. The terminal is also connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by the Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel.^[67]

Terminal 5 interior

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened Terminal 5 in a ceremony on 14 March 2008.^[68] Used exclusively by British Airways, the terminal opened for passenger use on 27 March 2008,^[69] with flight 26 from Hong Kong its first arrival. The first departure was Flight 302 to Paris at 06:20 GMT. However it quickly became apparent that the new terminal was not operating smoothly, and British Airways cancelled 34 flights and was later forced to suspend baggage check-in.^[70] Over the following 10 days some 28,000 bags failed to travel with their owners,^[71] and over 500 flights were cancelled. British Airways was not able to operate its full schedule from Terminal 5 until 8 April 2008.

A number of problems with the terminal's IT systems, coupled with insufficient testing and staff training, were the principal reasons for the difficulties^[72] which caused BA to postpone the transfer of its long-haul flights from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5.^[73] Consequently, BA will be occupying parts of Terminals 1 and 4 for longer than originally planned, with knock-on effects on other airlines scheduled to move into those areas.

Heathrow East Terminal

Plan of the future of Heathrow airport after the completion of Heathrow East

BAA announced in November 2005 that when Terminal 5 opens Terminal 2 will be closed to allow the Heathrow East scheme to be built.^[74] This will see Terminal 2 and the Queen's Building offices being replaced by a new terminal capable of handling 30 million people; five million fewer than Terminals 1 and 2 are currently used by, although considerably more than the design capacity of the existing buildings. Work is planned to start in 2008 and to be completed by 2012, in time for the London Olympics, although reported delays are making this target unlikely.^[75] Demolition of Terminal 2 is now scheduled for 2009. The plan envisages the complete realignment of piers more logically, the building of new ones on the now defunct cross-wind runway, and to provide for an increase in capacity, in a site taking up roughly the same amount of space as T5. The entire project is set to cost £1-1.5bn.^[76] Planning permission was granted in May 2007 on condition that the project meets a number of 'green' targets.^[77]

North Terminal

The current proposals for a third runway to the north of the current airport includes an additional terminal. Although currently referred to as "Terminal 6" by the time it could be built Terminals 1 and 2 would have been replaced by the East Terminal making it a possible fifth terminal overall.

Access

Public transport

Heathrow Express train at Paddington station

Heathrow rail services
Heathrow Express Heathrow Connect London Paddington Ealing Broadway Interchange to Central and District lines West Ealing (closed Sundays) Hanwell (closed Sundays) Southall Hayes & Harlington Piccadilly Line