Heathrow’s new £2.5 billion Terminal 2 is due to be officially opened today (Monday) by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The facility, which opened to flights on June 3, is known as ‘The Queen’s Terminal’ in honour of the Queen.
Terminal 2 will eventually be home to 26 airlines – 23 members of the Star Alliance as well as Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Virgin Atlantic Little Red.
Airlines will move into the new terminal in phases over the next six months. When fully occupied, Terminal 2 will have 332 daily flights to 54 global destinations.
The original Terminal 2 opened as the airport’s first passenger terminal in 1955.
Terminal 2 will be extended to become one of two main passenger hubs for the airport if the government supports the development of a third runway at Heathrow.
Heathrow East (an extended Terminal 2) and Heathrow West (Terminals 5 and 6) will be the main passenger terminals for a three-runway Heathrow.
These terminals and their satellite buildings will be connected by one underground passenger transit and baggage system.
The aim is to make Heathrow feel like a single integrated airport to create simpler journeys for passengers.