Heathrow's new Terminal 2 set to launch on 4th June 2014

Heathrow Airport has made a confident announcement that the new Terminal 2 will open on 4th June 2014.

Having learnt lessons from the chaotic opening of Terminal 5, operations will be phased in over a number of weeks – something that is relatively easy to do because of the number of different airlines using the terminal.  Like Terminal 5, Terminal 2 will also have a satellite terminal – 2B – reachable by shuttle train.

It will be the de-facto Star Alliance terminal, with 23 alliance members operating out of it.  It will also include Germanwings (a Lufthansa subsidiary, which makes sense) plus Aer Lingus and Virgin Little Red.

The latter is a little surprising, as Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate out of Terminal 3.  British Airways will continue to look more attractive for connecting traffic, with the majority (admittedly not all) of its flights allowing a Terminal 5 to Terminal 5 connection.  This may be down to the lack of domestic immigration and customs facilities in Terminal 3.

(It is good news for Virgin Upper Class passengers, though, who will not find the Clubhouse in Terminal 3 swamped with domestic passengers.  Hopefully Little Red passengers will, at last, be able to access a decent lounge in the new terminal.)

Once Terminal 2 is open, the phased demolition of Terminal 1 will begin.  An extension to Terminal 2 will then get underway.

I’m certainly looking forward to giving it a go – perhaps I will revisit Little Red at that time, who I am due to try for the first time next week.

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