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Queen opens new Heathrow terminal | Queen opens new Heathrow terminal |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Queen has officially opened Heathrow Airport's controversial Terminal 5, describing it as "a 21st Century gateway to Britain". | |
The £4.3bn terminal offers extra passenger capacity although the number of flights will not increase after it opens for business on 27 March. | The £4.3bn terminal offers extra passenger capacity although the number of flights will not increase after it opens for business on 27 March. |
Operator BAA says it will "transform" the level of service at the airport. | Operator BAA says it will "transform" the level of service at the airport. |
Environmental and residents' groups who have opposed it say it will lead to more flights, noise and pollution. | Environmental and residents' groups who have opposed it say it will lead to more flights, noise and pollution. |
'Advert for Britain' | |
The Queen addressed some 800 invited guests, including hundreds of airport and construction workers who were involved in the project. | |
She spoke of the "bright, airy space and clean, efficient layout", as she declared the terminal ready for business. | |
"It gives me great pleasure to open Terminal 5 - this 21st Century gateway to Britain and, to us, the wider world," she said. | |
The royal couple, dignitaries and hundreds of workers heard a specially-commissioned piece of music performed by a 30-strong choir. | |
TERMINAL 5 Cost: £4.5bnConstruction began: September 2002Aircraft stands: 60 by 2010Car park spaces: 3,800Self service check-in kiosks: 96Standard check-in desks: 54Security lanes: 20Bags processed per hour: 12,000Lifts: 192Escalators: 105Retail units: 112 Terminal 5 guide: Overview | TERMINAL 5 Cost: £4.5bnConstruction began: September 2002Aircraft stands: 60 by 2010Car park spaces: 3,800Self service check-in kiosks: 96Standard check-in desks: 54Security lanes: 20Bags processed per hour: 12,000Lifts: 192Escalators: 105Retail units: 112 Terminal 5 guide: Overview |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of airports operator BAA, which has funded the terminal, said the building represented "a living, breathing advertisement for Britain's ambition". | |
"Terminal 5 marks the start of a new beginning for Heathrow, for BAA and for our millions of passengers," he said. | |
"It is by any standard a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will breathe new life into Heathrow, allowing us to continue our transformation of the rest of the airport and will put Heathrow and BAA back where they belong - at the leading edge of global travel." | |
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly said it was "destined to become one of London's most iconic transport buildings". | Transport secretary Ruth Kelly said it was "destined to become one of London's most iconic transport buildings". |
She praised its stunning design and spectacular scale, and said it was one of the greenest airport buildings in the world. | |
'Broken promises' | 'Broken promises' |
Ahead of the ceremony, the Queen met architect Lord Rogers and the BA crew of the Boeing 777 who averted a tragedy when they crash-landed short of the runway at Heathrow in January. | |
The opening follows a major security alert at the airport on Thursday after a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence and ran into the path of an aircraft. | |
The man was arrested and a controlled explosion carried out on his rucksack. Police said the incident was not terrorism-related. | |
Some 60,000 people have worked a total of 100 million man hours to build Terminal 5 since construction began in September 2002. | Some 60,000 people have worked a total of 100 million man hours to build Terminal 5 since construction began in September 2002. |
The Queen will be unveiling another broken promise rather than a sparkling new terminal John StewartHacan Clear Skies In pictures: Terminal 5 | The Queen will be unveiling another broken promise rather than a sparkling new terminal John StewartHacan Clear Skies In pictures: Terminal 5 |
Built on the site of a former sewage works at the western end of the existing airport, Terminal 5 has been designed by 2006 Stirling Prize winners Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners. | Built on the site of a former sewage works at the western end of the existing airport, Terminal 5 has been designed by 2006 Stirling Prize winners Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners. |
Its construction has involved diverting two rivers, building what is claimed to be the UK's largest free-standing building and tunnelling 13km for rail and baggage links. | Its construction has involved diverting two rivers, building what is claimed to be the UK's largest free-standing building and tunnelling 13km for rail and baggage links. |
The complex includes 50 new aircraft stands, which will rise to 60 by 2010, two satellite buildings, one of which is still to be completed, rail links to London Underground and the Heathrow Express, and a new multi-storey car park. | The complex includes 50 new aircraft stands, which will rise to 60 by 2010, two satellite buildings, one of which is still to be completed, rail links to London Underground and the Heathrow Express, and a new multi-storey car park. |
The official opening is of the project's Phase 1, including Terminals 5A and 5B. Phase 2, which adds Terminal 5C, is set to open in 2010. | |
BAA says it will simplify the process of checking in for flights with online check-in, fast baggage dropping facilities and state-of-the-art baggage handling. | BAA says it will simplify the process of checking in for flights with online check-in, fast baggage dropping facilities and state-of-the-art baggage handling. |
It's a very, very important part of the national infrastructure Richard Lambert, CBI Reaction: for and against | It's a very, very important part of the national infrastructure Richard Lambert, CBI Reaction: for and against |
The first passengers will start using Terminal 5 in a fortnight when they step off a BA flight from Hong Kong. | The first passengers will start using Terminal 5 in a fortnight when they step off a BA flight from Hong Kong. |
The terminal will be solely for the use of British Airways for international flights and journeys to and from Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast and Scottish airports. | The terminal will be solely for the use of British Airways for international flights and journeys to and from Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast and Scottish airports. |
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said it was not unfair for the airline to have sole access to the terminal. | BA chief executive Willie Walsh said it was not unfair for the airline to have sole access to the terminal. |
"I think it is fair because for the first time in 40 years, British Airways will be able to bring most of our operations under one roof," he said. | "I think it is fair because for the first time in 40 years, British Airways will be able to bring most of our operations under one roof," he said. |
HAVE YOUR SAYIt's better to concentrate the traffic effectively at Heathrow, rather than building yet another airportLee Rixon, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYIt's better to concentrate the traffic effectively at Heathrow, rather than building yet another airportLee Rixon, UKSend us your comments |
John Stewart, of residents' campaign group Hacan Clear Skies, said the opening marked a "sad day" for people living near Heathrow. | John Stewart, of residents' campaign group Hacan Clear Skies, said the opening marked a "sad day" for people living near Heathrow. |
He said: "Hacan is not opposed to good terminal facilities for passengers but Terminal 5 was never about that. It was about creating enough terminal capacity to allow BAA to bring more flights into the airport." | He said: "Hacan is not opposed to good terminal facilities for passengers but Terminal 5 was never about that. It was about creating enough terminal capacity to allow BAA to bring more flights into the airport." |
He accused successive governments of going back on promises that there would not be a fifth terminal at the airport, saying: "The Queen will be unveiling another broken promise rather than a sparkling new terminal. | He accused successive governments of going back on promises that there would not be a fifth terminal at the airport, saying: "The Queen will be unveiling another broken promise rather than a sparkling new terminal. |
"The pall of deceit and collusion will hang over the entire proceedings." | "The pall of deceit and collusion will hang over the entire proceedings." |
The Queen opened the airport's first terminal building - which is now Terminal 2 - in 1955. |