Queen Elizabeth Opens Heathrow’s Ultra-Modern Terminal 5

By Diane Smith
15:36, March 14th 2008
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Queen Elizabeth Opens Heathrow’s Ultra-Modern Terminal 5

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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