Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 2 welcomed its first flights today with a smoother operation than Terminal 5’s in 2008.
A United Airlines flight from Chicago was the first to touch down at The Queen’s Terminal in the morning after months and millions of pounds was plugged into the new facility.
The new terminal will be home to the 23 Star Alliance carriers that operate from the airport and each will be introduced in phases over the next six months.
Air Canada, Air China and ANA will be the next to start flying to and from the terminal from 18 June.
They will be followed by Aegean Airlines, EVA Air, THAI Airways, Turkish Airlines and newcomer Avianca in July.
EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, SAS and Singapore Airlines will then move to the terminal in September, followed by Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS and TAP Portugal in October.
“After many years of planning and construction, tests and optimisation, we at Star Alliance are proud to welcome the first passengers into the new terminal,” said Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab. “It is particularly fitting that one of our five founder members, United, should operate the first flights from this terminal, which sets new standards for Alliance customer service and seamless travel at this important hub airport.”
Source: Travel Daily