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Queen Elizabeth attended the
launch of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 Friday, which represents an $8.6 billion (4.3
billion pound) investment.
The organizers provided high
security measures for the British queen, pursuant to the yesterday’s incident
when a man carrying a backpack was arrested for running onto a runway at the
airport, CNN reports. The man was believed to be a suicide bomber. He is still
in the custody of Scotland Yard. The Queen was accompanied by her husband, the
Duke of Edinburgh, and by Nigel Ruud, chairman of airport operator BAA.
“Terminal Five marks the start of a
new beginning for Heathrow, for BAA and for our millions of passengers. It is
by any standard a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will
breathe new life into Heathrow and put it back where it really belongs - at the
leading edge of global travel,” said Sir Nigel.
The owners of Terminal 5, BAA,
which also runs Gatwick and Stansted in Britain, began the planning of the
project 15 years ago. They have met numerous protests from the
environmentalists and local residents.
“Further
expansion of Heathrow would be environmentally irresponsible and isn't
necessary for the economy of London,”
said Richard Dyer of Friends of the Earth.
Spanish-owned BAA also plans to
demolish Terminals 1 and 2 and replace them in a project called Heathrow East.
Terminal 5, which is five times
the size of Terminal 4, will be able to receive 30 million passengers a year
and it means that Heathrow’s annual number of passengers will rise from 68
million to 95 million, the Press Association notes. There are 150 check-in
desks, 105 lifts, 10 miles of baggage conveyor belts and 800 toilets. It opens
exclusively to British Airways passengers on March 27.
The terminal includes an enormous
shopping mall, cafes and restaurants. Passengers can kill their time shopping
at famous brands outlets such as Harrods, Prada, Bulgari, Wagamama, Gordon
Ramsay, Paul Smith and Carluccio’s.
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