Heathrow overhaul targets business travellers

Every year, more than 470,000 flights transport passengers from London’s Heathrow to 186 destinations around the world.

Business executives coming to the UK cite Heathrow’s frequent links to mainland Europe and the rest of the globe as a key reason for basing their companies in the UK.

However, a huge increase in passenger volumes has meant that Heathrow is now handling millions more people than it was designed for.

On top of this, recent security threats have led to more stringent screening procedures causing delays for travellers.

But with a new terminal about to open and a major redevelopment planned for other parts of the airport, Heathrow’s operators have a vision to transform it into a world-class model of ease and efficiency.

Terminal 5 prepares to launch

March 2008 sees the launch of Heathrow’s brand new Terminal 5 (T5) complex, which aims to reduce airport congestion while offering an experience tailored to the needs of business travellers.

The glazed steel structure, billed as “visually stunning”, with a floor space the size of 50 football pitches is designed to create one of the best air travel experiences in the world.

It will be served by 60 aircraft stands, a new air-traffic control tower, multi-storey parking for 4,000 cars, a bus and coach station, and a 600-bed hotel.

Using the world's most advanced baggage handling technology, it will aim to cut late bags to less than one in every thousand.

Tailored to business travellers

A six-platform railway and underground station will offer quick and easy links to central London and the rest of the UK from the new terminal.

Luxury shops and eating facilities have all been designed with the comfort of jet-setting business executives in mind.

Gordon Ramsay will open his first airport-based restaurant at T5, while retailers including Harrods, Tiffany's, Mulberry, and Paul Smith, have designed product lines for the new terminal.

Tackling security queues

Reducing waiting times in security queues throughout the airport is a top priority for BAA, which has set a target for 95 per cent of our passengers to wait no longer than five minutes.

It is currently trialling body scanning technology in Terminal 4 and fingerprint and iris identification techniques in Terminal 3 to speed up waiting times.

Transfer times for passengers will also be reduced when British Airways moves the majority of its flights to Terminal 5 and airlines in other parts of the airport are moved closer together.

Overhaul of other terminals

As the first of Heathrow’s terminals of the future, T5 will set the scene for the transformation of its four existing terminals.

Next year will see the commencement of a project to build a brand new passenger terminal to replace Terminals 1 and 2.

This development will be known as Heathrow East and the aim is to have it in use in time for the London Olympics in 2012.

Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 will also undergo major redevelopment to reduce traffic congestion, improve check-in facilities and improve the overall passenger experience.

Providing firms doing business in the UK with unrivalled access to their global networks is at the heart of this transformation.