What has 800 toilets, 9,140 seats, 32 baby changing facilities and cost £4.3 billion?

Terminal 5 at Heathrow will open for up to 30 million passengers a year on March 27, when the majority of British Airways flights will move over. 

TravelMole has secured a sneak preview of the new terminal – the video will be available via the www.TravelMole.com homepage later today.

BAA says the new terminal is set to help transform the passenger experience at Heathrow.

“It will offer passengers a simple and stress-free experience through online check-in and fast bag drop facilities, with the benefit of state-of-the-art security and baggage facilities,” according to the airport operator.

The Terminal 5 complex features 60 new aircraft stands; two satellite buildings, the second of which (phase 2) will be completed by 2010; rail links to London Underground and Heathrow Express; a new multi-storey car park and landscaping. 

Some 60,000 people have worked a total of 100 million man hours to build Terminal 5, since construction work began in September 2002. 

The Terminal 5 project team has created the UK’s biggest free-standing building; moved the 900-tonne top cab of a new 87m high control tower 2km across the airfield; tunnelled over 13km for rail and baggage links; diverted two rivers; and installed over 30,000 sq metres of glass building facades, according to BAA.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: “Terminal 5 is a fantastic facility and our customers will really enjoy the space, comfort and convenience it offers.

“We have exclusive use of the terminal and that will allow us to greatly improve the levels of service we can offer. The customer experience at Terminal 5 will rival, if not exceed, that at any airport in the world.”

“With the opening of Terminal 5, British Airways and BAA have an opportunity to make air travel, both into and out of the UK, once again a calmer and much more enjoyable experience. We intend to take full advantage of that opportunity and can’t wait to open the doors to our customers.” 

In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, BAA chairman Sir Nigel Rudd will say: “Terminal 5 marks the start of a new beginning for Heathrow, for BAA and for our millions of passengers.

“It is, by any standard, a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will breathe new life into Heathrow, allowing us to continue our transformation of the rest of the airport, and will put Heathrow and BAA back where they belong – at the leading edge of global travel.” 

TERMINAL 5 FACTS:

Cost £4.3bn

Construction Sept 2002 – Mar 2008

No. of Passengers annually 30 million

Phase 1 – opening 2008 Terminal 5A and B

50 aircraft stands (total)

Phase 2 – opening 2010 Terminal 5C

60 aircraft stands (total)

Terminal 5A dimensions 396m long x 176m wide x 40m high

Levels above ground 4

Terminal 5B dimensions 442m long x 52m wide x 19.5m high

Levels above ground 3

Multi-storey car park 3,800 spaces

Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel 605 rooms (opens June)

Rail links Heathrow Express

London Underground Piccadilly Line

Check-in self service kiosks 96

Check-in fast bag drops over 90

Check-in standard desks 54

Security zones 2 (north and south)

Security lanes 20 

Baggage reclaim belts 11

Length of bag conveyers 17 km

No of bags processed per hour 12,000

Number of lifts 192

Number of escalators 105

Number of toilet blocks 112

Childrens’ play areas 3 (for toddlers to 7 year olds)

Number of retail facilities 112 (including 25 food and drink outlets)

Percentage of space given to retail – around 5.5 %

by Phil Davies