Opening date set for Terminal 5

Airport operator BAA and British Airways have unveiled March 27 2008 as the opening date for London Heathrow's Terminal 5.

The terminal will be a dedicated BA terminal, serving around around 30 million passengers a year.

BAA said over 90% of construction work is complete and the project remains on time and on budget.

It will begin an intensive six-month trial of facilities in September, by recruiting 16,000 people to act as passengers.

"London is a world city, a global financial centre and needs a world class airport," said Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of BAA Heathrow.

"68 million passengers will fly through Heathrow this year in aging terminal facilities designed to accommodate around 45 million. When T5 opens and 30 million passengers move out of existing terminals, for the first time we will have space to breath in the central terminal area and have a once in a lifetime opportunity to redevelop the rest of the airport and bring it up to a comparable standard to T5.

"By 2012, we aim to have either re-built or redeveloped our existing facilities and returned Heathrow to its rightful status as the world's leading international airport."

Designed by 2006 Stirling Prize winner the Richard Rogers Partnership, the T5 complex features 60 new aircraft stands, two satellite buildings (the second to be completed by 2010), rail links to London Underground and Heathrow Express, a new multi-storey car park and extensive landscaping.

27 March 2007