London Heathrow terminal 4 reopens on 14 June to travellers for the first time in over two years. This development is part of a plan to increase the airport's capacity. Qatar Airways will be the first airline to relocate. A twenty or so other carriers during the month of July.
The move will give airlines in Terminal 4 more check-in space and boarding capacity. They will also be able to offer the comfort of their premium lounges. The departure of these twenty or so carriers will free up space in Terminals 2, 3 and 5. Good news indeed!
Two years of closure
The closure of Terminal 4 for two years has enabled the airport authority to carry out a number of repairs. renovations to the terminal. And to install new, more efficient hold baggage screening machines.
Buses metro services the Piccadilly line and the brand new Elizabeth Line will serve T4 from 14 June. The commercial offer in the terminal will remain modest in June with the return of Qatar Airways alone. But the other shops will open over the summer as the airlines relocate.
Whether passengers travelling to Heathrow will benefit from an improvement on the current saturation situation, the airport concedes that everything will be far from perfect.
In a press release, Heathrow Airport Ltd stated that its " The ramp-up plan is well underway, even if it's not always easy to balance supply and demand during this intense recovery phase. We are recruiting up to 1,000 new security officers and other colleagues. We have increased our customer services team to help manage check-in queues, ensure passengers are ready for security and make sure people get on their flights." .
Mobilisation against terminal congestion
Throughout the peak summer period, Heathrow will be strengthening its "Here to Help" team, even asking head office staff to get involved in all four terminals to help passengers..
Heathrow also encourages passengers to prepare before their flight, following three simple steps: check the terminal in advance; complete all travel documents before coming to the airport; and prepare hand luggage for security. In particular, observe the rules concerning liquids and electrical equipment such as laptops.
° List of airlines in Terminal 4: Air Algérie, Air Astana, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Serbia, Azerbaijan Airlines, Bulgarian Air, El Al, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, ITA Airlines, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Omanair, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei, Saudi Arabia Airlines, TAROM, Tunis Air, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines.
