Heathrow to reopen T4
Image courtesy Heathro w
Qatar Airways will be the first to move, followed by around 30 airlines over the following month.
The move will allow Terminal 4 airlines more check in space and stand capacity as well as access to their premium facilities and will also free up space in Terminals 2, 3 and 5 ahead of the summer peak. Over the last two years, Heathrow has taken the opportunity to refurbish many parts of Terminal 4, including upgrading toilets, air conditioning and hold baggage screening machines.
Local buses, Piccadilly Line underground services, TFL Rail and an inter-terminal transfer service will operate into T4 from 14 June to provide easy access for passengers and colleagues. A wide range of retail, food and beverage outlets will be available and more will open over the summer as airline occupancy increases.
Heathrow's overall ramp up plan is on track, though it cautions it is not always easy to balance supply and demand during this intense recovery phase. It is recruiting up to 1,000 new security officers and other colleagues and supporting airlines and handlers in their recruitment programmes. It has also increased its customer service team to help manage queues in check in, make sure passengers are ready for security and can catch their flights.
Operations at Heathrow have run smoothly over the half term holiday, as a result of good planning and collaboration between airport, airlines, handlers and Border Force. At peak times there have been longer queues than usual at check in, security, immigration and baggage reclaim but it has been organised and kept moving.
Throughout the summer peak, Heathrow is also bolstering its ‘Here to Help’ team, which sees head office colleagues including all senior managers mobilised across the four terminals and on hand to assist passengers, answer questions and welcome them back to air travel. Passengers should look out for the ‘purple people’, who can help with everything from welcoming passengers and directing them to check-in desks, to advising and assisting passengers with preparing hand luggage to pass through security.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “I want to thank our colleagues and Team Heathrow partners who are working tirelessly to make sure that millions of people can enjoy the benefits of travel once again.
“While we are still years away from passenger numbers returning to pre-pandemic levels, reopening Terminal 4 will give airlines at Heathrow extra space across the airport, helping them manage the impact additional travel documents continue to have on check in times.
“To help ensure a smooth journey we will ensure head office colleagues are in the terminals helping passengers. Passengers can also help us to help them by getting set for travel before they arrive at the airport, by checking their terminal in advance, completing all travel paperwork at home and getting hand luggage ready for security checks.”
