News

Heathrow T2 closes for £1bn redevelopment

23 Nov 2009 by AndrewGough
After 54 years in service and 316 million passengers, the current Heathrow Terminal 2 building will today (November 23) see its last passenger depart on an Air France flight. The terminal is being closed to make way for its £1 billion replacement, work on which will begin next year. The new T2 building, part of a larger rebuilding programme across Heathrow, is scheduled to open in 2014 when it will become home to the Star Alliance group. The new building will handle an estimated 20 million passengers per year and will be opened in two phases, the second of which will see T2 extended into Terminal 1. T1 will itself be closed down when the second stage is complete (see the big picture August 11). Air France and CSA Czech Airlines will be among the last carriers to operate at T2. From tomorrow, both airlines will move across to the newly refurbished T4 to join their fellow Skyteam member airlines. Other airlines to have moved from T2 this month include Skyteam carriers Aeroflot, Alitalia and Korean Air, which now operate from the alliance’s stronghold at T4. Independent airlines Arik Air and Royal Air Maroc have also moved across to T4. To see a recent round-up of Heathrow terminal moves, click here. BAA’s chief executive Colin Matthews said: “The closure of Terminal 2 marks an important moment in the modernisation of Heathrow. We look forward to the new Terminal 2 providing a new home for the Star Alliance and a better experience for our passengers.” Construction on the existing T2 building began in 1951, officially opening to passengers four years later. Originally known as the Europa Building, it was renamed Terminal 2 in 1969 when Terminal 1 opened. For more information visit heathrowairport.com. Report by Andrew Gough Other facts about Heathrow T2:
  • In 1957, T2 saw the first non-stop flight from Heathrow to California when it set a new record for distance and time.
  • The architect behind T2 was Frederick Gibberd, who also designed Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and London Central Mosque.
  • T2 was originally designed to handle 1.2 million passengers per year, but over the last few years has seen up to eight million annually.
  • The busiest day ever at T2 was July 19 2003 when 35,918 passengers passed through the building. The busiest year was 2002 with 86,824 flights.
  • Famous faces to have passed through T2 include The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Grace and Princess Margaret.
(Source: baa.com)
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