Spotlight

Smooth landing at London Heathrow

The Heathrow airport is undergoing a transformation to cater to the staggering growth in traffic. Justin Baines, group marketing manager, BAA speaks of the future and the relevance this airport will continue to have for Indian carriers

Photo credit: BAA Aviation Photo Library

Heathrow airport has a long history as the key British and European gateway for Indian travellers. Air India and British Airways have been operating between India and the UK for many years and recently there has been an impressive growth in traffic between the countries with a doubling of passenger volumes from over 1 million in 2003 to nearly 2.5 million in 2006. This growth and the new airlines such as Jet Airways and Virgin Atlantic flying between the countries are clear signals that demand for air travel will continue to increase. Heathrow is keen to maintain and improve the strong air links between India and the UK by creating the right airport environment for our airline customers and passengers.

This process starts with massive investment to improve the passenger experience as Heathrow has to handle millions more people than it was designed for and as a result some of the facilities are tired and not up to the standards that our passengers expect.

BAA has a vision to put Heathrow back where it belongs. A plan for investment that will deliver world-class facilities, more space for security, and improved environmental performance. In short, a plan to make Heathrow great by 2012.

Passengers will not have to wait to see improvements, the programme starts immediately. Over the next few years almost the entire airport will be rebuilt, refurbished or redesigned. Our oldest buildings will be knocked down; our newest will offer facilities that surpass anything that has gone before. We are in the middle of the largest sustained period of investment that Heathrow has ever seen. By 2012 we will have spent £8 billion on improving the airport. And the change will be so great that most of our passengers will be travelling through terminals that aren't even open today.

Opening in March 2008 BAA Heathrow Terminal 5

Terminal 5 will be a huge improvement for Heathrow. When it opens on time and on budget in March 2008 for the first time in years Heathrow will have enough space for all of the passengers coming through any where in the airport. The stunning glazed structure with a floor space the size of 50 football pitches represents the best of British engineering and delivers one of the finest passenger experiences of any airport terminal in the world.

But it is not just the size of the project that is breathtaking. It is also the ambition for passenger service. The terminal will be flooded with natural light, with simple way-finding and stunning views across the airfield. The main departure lounge will house a world-class restaurant. And the world's most advanced baggage system aims to cut late bags to less than one in every thousand.

But the most exciting thing about Terminal 5 is what comes next. British Airways will move almost all of its fleet into the new terminal creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the space created in the rest of the airport. Terminal 5 is the key to unlocking a new Heathrow.

Terminal 4 Refurbishment (2008/09)

Terminal 4 is Heathrow's youngest terminal - opened in 1986. Although the building itself is in good condition it is in need of extensive refurbishment. After the opening of Terminal 5, BAA will embark on a major upgrade of the existing facilities. We will look to increase the amount of natural light entering the building, improve the facilities for check-in and build modern departure lounges. As some airlines will be moving terminals as a result of T5 it is vital that they all get the best quality facilities.

New technology

We are also working closely with airlines and the UK Department for Transport to take advantage of improvements in security technology. We are trialling body scanning technology in Terminal 4 and fingerprint and iris identification techniques in Terminal 3.

Our overall target is that 95 per cent of our passengers should wait no longer than 5 minutes in security queues. BAA will invest the money and resources needed to get this right.

Heathrow East (2012)

In 2008 we will demolish Terminal 2 and build a brand new passenger terminal in its place. This project is called 'Heathrow East' and will ultimately replace Terminals 1 and 2. However, it will not increase the capacity of the airport but will deliver a fantastic passenger experience, more space for security, and many environmental benefits.

Improved connectivity (2008-09)

In 2008 British Airways will move the majority of its flights to Terminal 5. After this we are planning on grouping other airlines together by alliance to reduce transfer times for passengers. The One World alliance will operate from Terminal 3, SkyTeam from Terminal 4 and the STAR Alliance from Terminal 1 and subsequently Heathrow East. The non-aligned carriers will be in different terminals in the airport depending on their individual circumstances and the plans for exactly which airline will be where will be released in the near future.

A bright future

There are many reasons why travel between India and the UK will remain buoyant and grow including new airlines entering and stimulating the market. BAA Heathrow will work with these airlines when they are ready to enter and try to best accommodate their needs. Our goal is to make sure that Heathrow remains the best UK and European entry point for Indian travellers for years to come.