BAA announces Heathrow terminal opening

Airport operator BAA has announced that the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport will open one year from today.

The terminal, which is set to be used exclusively by British Airways, will see 30 million passengers pass through its gates every year and will undergo trials involving 16,000 people from September.

Car parking schemes, IT systems, baggage handling and airport security will all be tested during the trials. Terminal 5's very first official passengers will be those stepping off a British Airways service from Hong Kong next March.

The new terminal will feature a unique baggage system, a dedicated train station, extensive online check-in and self-service facilities, and a host of specialist retail stores including Harrods, Paul Smith, and Tiffany, with famous chef Gordon Ramsay also set to open a restaurant there.

"This is a historic breakthrough which will transform the airport experience for our customers. T5 will mean less queuing, faster baggage systems and better punctuality. For comfort and convenience, it will exceed the best you can find at any other airport," commented British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh.

Earlier this month, BAA announced a number of shops that will open in the new terminal, including Paul Smith, Smythson, Mappin & Webb and Links of London.

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