Heathrow’s Terminal 2 opens
Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 has opened today, almost 60 years after the original Terminal 2 opened as the airport’s first passenger terminal in 1955.
United Airlines was the first airline to move into the terminal and will operate 17 arriving and 17 departing flights today.
The terminal will eventually be home to 26 airlines – 23 members of the Star Alliance as well as Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Virgin Atlantic Little Red, which will move in over the next six months.
The transformation is a £2.5 billion project and marks the latest phase of an £11 billion private sector investment to ‘transform’ Heathrow.
But the opening was marred by strike action from Heathrow Express and Connect over jobs cuts and safety despite the new opening.
Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: "Despite an outrageous campaign of intimidation by Heathrow Express managers, RMT members are solidly supporting the action again this morning in a fight over cuts that would halve staffing numbers and decimate the safety regime on the Heathrow rail links."
Heathrow Express trains are still running.
The new Terminal 2 has been named ‘The Queen’s Terminal’ in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and will be officially opened by her on 23 June when Her Majesty the Queen accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Development Director and Chief Executive Designate said:
"Heathrow has sought advice from other airports around the world and learnt lessons from opening Terminal 5. More than 180 trials have taken place over the last six months involving 14,000 volunteers. 100,000 bags have already passed through the Terminal 2 baggage system, with peak loads tested at 4,000 bags per hour compared to an expected peak of 2,500 bags.
"Every person working at Terminal 2 has been required to participate in familiarisation and training sessions with more than 1,700 sessions taking place. Airlines will move into the new terminal is a series of 11 airline moves over the course of six months. Today, the terminal will operate at just 10% of its total flight volume."
Paul Wait chief executive of the GTMC said on the opening of Heathrow Terminal 2:
"The GTMC has consistently supported the campaign for the development of Heathrow and welcomes the improvement in facilities and services that are now available at Terminal 2 for business travellers at one of the UK’s leading international hub airports."
Diane
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