Heathrow T2 Welcomes First Passengers

Heathrow's new Terminal 2 has welcomed its first passengers, as the airport insists it has learned lessons from the opening of Terminal 5, but warns of potential problems during the new terminal's infancy.

The west London £2.5bn Terminal 2 will open in phases, with only 10% of its eventual capacity being reached today, in an attempt to avoid the chaos of the opening of the T5 in 2008.

It will be some months before the other 25 airlines using T5 join United Airlines, which is already operating from the new terminal.

Today saw 34 flights carrying 6,000 people, but the terminal will eventually host 330 flights a day to 50 destinations by 26 airlines.

T2, known as Queen's Terminal, has 60 check-in gates and 66 self-check-in kiosks, 29 security lanes, 33 shops, 17 restaurants, more than 7,000 seats, 634 toilets and 42 water fountains.

The opening coincides with a 24-hour strike by members of the RMT union who work on the Heathrow Express rail link to central London.

Heathrow development director and chief executive John Holland-Kaye said the airport had "sought advice from other airports around the world and learnt lessons from opening T5" and added: "Heathrow is confident but not complacent about the opening. We recognise that there will inevitably be some teething problems in the first few days. We will be focused on identifying and resolving issues as quickly as possible to deliver a smooth journey for passengers."

(CVS/IT)