Stuck in London’s Heathrow Airport – you’re probably not alone! At the world’s largest and most overcrowded international airport, standing in queues and delayed flights are the norm.
However, all that is hopefully about to change. Soon a trip through Heathrow should be a bit more pleasant and not the least a lot shorter. On March 27th, Heathrow’s new and massively hyped Terminal 5 is due to open. The terminal is been built to handle 30 million passengers yearly, and will, according to British Airways, be the world’s first major ‘queueless’ airport terminal.
Travelers will be able to walk from the parking lots to check-in in only four minutes via a network of low-energy, driverless (and very cute) pod-shaped vehicles which run back and forth on a track between Terminal 5 and the car park. Rows of check-in machines have been installed, so many that there should be no more than one person in line in front of you. After checking in, you should not need to spend more than 90 seconds at the ‘fast bag drops’.
Once through check–in and security, passengers travelling in business- or first class, can sip drinks in the world’s biggest airport-lounge situated in top of the enormous terminal, while looking down upon the ‘mortal’ passengers flying tourist class, who can indulge themselves in a world of shopping and eating. Terminal 5 has no less than 144 shops and restaurants, but no burger joints. To set a standard, the terminal will host Britain’s favorite celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey’s first airport outlet. In fact one of British Airway’s biggest concerns is that passengers will be so consumed in the restaurants and shops, that they’ll miss their flight – causing delays.
British Airways will switch more than 90% of its operations at Heathrow into the £4.3 billion Terminal 5. This will take place in two phases - on March 27th and April 30th. Its remaining Heathrow operations will move, together with the other oneworld airlines, into Terminal 3 - the closest of the existing terminals to Terminal 5 – after it has been renovated.
Terminal 5's are hot! Also New York's John F. Kennedy Airport is getting a new Terminal 5 this year. Read more.
Author David Rich Momondo
Related posts:
Heathrow's Terminal 5 finally opens