All you need to know about…
Why did Heathrow need a fifth terminal?
The new terminal will help the airport cope with its 67 million passengers a year. The added capacity will cut both congestion and transfer times at the airport and is a major part of modernisation plans for Heathrow.
Which airlines will fly in and out of Terminal 5?
British Airways will be the only airline to use the new terminal.
When does Terminal 5 open?
The Queen officially opens the terminal on Friday, March 14, 2008, but it will not open to passengers until March 27. The first flight to land will be a BA plane coming from Hong Kong.
How much did it cost?
A cool £4.3 billion.
How long did it take to build?
Construction of Terminal 5 began in September 2002 but it followed 13 years of planning and a four-year public inquiry. The design competition for Terminal 5 was held in 1989 and in 1993 BAA submitted its first planning application.
Who designed it?
The people behind the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Welsh Assembly were responsible for designing the new terminal - the Richard Rogers Partnership (now called Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners). A total of sixty thousand people were involved in the building process.
How big is it?
The new terminal is about the size of Hyde Park in London and at capacity it will handle in the region of 35 million passengers a year.
What shops will be there?
Accessorize, Boots, Harrods Department Store, HMV, PC World, Prada, Sunglasses Hut, Ted Baker, Tiffany & Co. and many other shops will be housed in the new terminal.
What restaurants will be there?
Among the places to eat at the terminal, you will find Wagamama, Giraffe, Pret, Apostrophe, Costa, Eat and a host of others including Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay's first airport restaurant.
How do I get there?
Visit the new terminal’s official website for information about travel to and from the airport.
(Source: BAA Limited)
