23 October 2009

Oneworld carriers to complete Heathrow terminals switch

Eight members of the Oneworld alliance will be concentrated in two of Heathrow’s terminals rather than five from next week.

The global airline grouping’s biggest relocation project to date is due to be completed next Thursday (October 29) with the final moves of member airlines at the London hub.

All Qantas' operations at the airport and British Airways' Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney services will switch from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3.

Finnair and Iberia moved to Terminal 3 earlier this year, along with a number of BA short haul routes.

Already based in Terminal 3 are other oneworld carriers - American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian.

All BA's other operations are now housed in the new Terminal 5. Terminal 3 is the closest of Heathrow's existing terminals to Terminal 5.

The project brings the operations of the alliance's eight carriers serving the airport from across all five of its passenger terminals to just two, as it aims to smooth transfers at its biggest European hub.

Terminal 3 is nearing the completion of a multi-million pound upgrade to bring its customer facilities up to a similar standard to those offered at Terminal 5, including a new BA lounge facility. A first class suite will open when its Sydney flights move there.

BA is to move three of its London routes - serving Gibraltar, Malaga and Pisa from Gatwick to Heathrow - on Sunday.

*Mexicana will become part of Oneworldon November 10, along with subsidiaries MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink as affiliate members.

by Phil Davies