First passengers use Terminal 5
The first passengers arrive at £4.3 billion Terminal 5 at Heathrow were due in from Hong Kong this morning.
The new generation building will handle more than 40,000 British Airways’ passengers today, marking the start of operations of Heathrow’s new facility.
The terminal will handle 380 flights during the day (190 departures and 190 arrivals). These will be split into 350 short haul and domestic flights and a further 30 long haul flights.
A second phase of BA long haul flights move into Terminal 5 from Terminal 4 on April 30, taking the total number of flights using the new terminal each day to more than 500.
BA had to move more than 1,000 pieces of equipment and aircraft from their old homes in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 into the correct positions at Terminal 5.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: “This is an historic day for British Airways and for UK aviation. Everyone involved in the project should be extremely proud of their achievements in creating this fantastic facility.
“The new terminal gives British Airways a great opportunity to offer the highest levels of service and put Heathrow back on the global travel map.
“I know that our customers will love the space, comfort and convenience that Terminal 5 offers and I believe that people can look forward to a much calmer and more enjoyable way of travelling in the months ahead.”
BAA Heathrow managing director Mark Bullock said: “This is an incredibly exciting day for BAA and one which marks a turning point for Heathrow.
“We have waited over 20 years to welcome passengers to Terminal 5 and during that time Heathrow has got increasingly congested.
“Terminal 5 signifies a new beginning for Heathrow and I am immensely proud that we open the doors of this magnificent building today, exactly when we said we would.”
The start of operations at Terminal 5 signals a new beginning for Heathrow, BAA claims.
It will provide the airport with much needed additional capacity so that the transformation of existing terminal facilities can continue.
Over the next five years, BAA will invest around £4 billion in a development programme that includes closing Terminal 2 and replacing it with a modern, energy efficient terminal.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025