Big move to Heathrow

Following the inauguration a year and a half ago of terminal 5, the heart of the British Airways network, airport operator BAA is completing the reconfiguration of all its terminals.

Since the summer, around fifty airlines have changed terminal. The Oneworld alliance, as well as British Airways flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney - code-shared with Qantas - have moved to terminal 3, joining Finnair, Iberia, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian. Terminal 3 features a Oneworld zone and luxurious first and business lounges bearing the British Airways brand.

For its part, Star Alliance has taken possession of a more spacious terminal 1. An area is reserved for twelve Star airlines, with check-in kiosks, counters for premium classes and two lounges, one for First and the other for Business. The other airlines in the alliance - including SAS and most of the Asian airlines - will continue to use terminal 3 until 2013, when a new terminal 2 designed by Norman Foster will open.

Skyteam - of which Air France-KLM is a member - has regrouped in terminal 4 and inaugurated a 1600 m2 shared lounge, which offers an oxygen bar and, since the beginning of November, a treatment service. Also in November, Skyteam inaugurated its new services in terminal 4: check-in area for Premium passengers, self-service check-in kiosks and more baggage drop-off counters. Terminal 4 is also home to a number of non-alliance airlines, including Gulf Air, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines. Etihad recently inaugurated a business lounge, while Malaysia Airlines will open its own in early 2010.