Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport - London

2008-12-16T03:22:00.000Z

Informations:

Acessibility:

Underground /Metro & Train

Bus & Coach

Bicycle

Airlines and destinations:

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Terminal 3

Terminal 4

Terminal 5 (British Airways)

NEWS

BA says more Americans will book flights to the UK

2008-12-16T02:51:00.001Z

More people will book flights from the US to the UK as Americans look to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate, according to British Airways (BA).

A spokesman from the UK's flagship carrier said that it was now cheaper for Americans to fly to Britain because of the fall in air traffic between the two countries.

"From the American point of view, it is cheaper now to come to the UK than it has been in the last few years," he said.

"You may start to see a slight change and you may start to see more traffic coming the other way now."

The spokesman added that the reason for a decline in traffic - between New York and London in particular - was the ongoing financial crisis and the downturn of the economy.

According to BA traffic and capacity statistics published last month, the number of people flying to the US has fallen by 7.6 percent since November 2007, from 604,000 to 558,000.

Source: Reuters

Hilary Benn reveals cabinet split over Heathrow expansion (third Runway)

2008-12-16T02:35:00.002Z

After months of speculation environment secretary Hilary Benn has confirmed that there are indeed deep splits within the cabinet over whether or not to proceed with plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

In an interview with The Sunday Times yesterday, Benn became the first minister to break ranks and openly voice concerns over the proposed expansion of the airport and its likely contribution to air and noise pollution.

Warning that the airport was already in breach of EU rules governing air pollution, Benn said that the government had to ensure that any expansion would not lead to sustained breaches or air and noise pollution standards.

Heathrow has an exemption, or "derogation", from current EU air pollution standards that runs up until 2015.

Benn told the paper that the government has to "honour that commitment" warning that failure to do so could see embarrassing legal action taken against the EU. "You are then in trouble with the commission, you get infraction proceedings and then off you go – which is not something we can contemplate," he said.

The government's official study on the impact of a third runway said that improvements in aircraft design meant that even if the airport does deliver the planned increase in flights from 480,000 to 700,000 a year the EU standards can be met.

Meanwhile, airport operator BAA has said it will curb the number of flights from the expanded airport if an independent watchdog deems that the airport is breaking the rules.

However, green groups have claimed that the official government pollution projections are based on aircraft designs that do not yet exist, while the government's own watchdog, the Environment Agency, has expressed concerns that a third runway would likely result in the rules being breached.

Benn's comments come just weeks after transport secretary Geoff Hoon announced that he was delaying the final decision on the plans until next month. Officially Hoon said that the delay was necessary to give the government more time to assess the 70,000 responses it received to the most recent consultation process, but reports claimed it was forced by the depth of the divisions within the cabinet over the issue.

The Sunday Times reported that while Benn is the first minister to go on record with his concerns over the expansion of the airport several other senior cabinet figures are also opposed to the plans.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband is said to be concerned that a third runway would make it harder for the government to meets its new legally binding emission targets and retain its reputation as a leader in the fight against climate change.

His fears are thought to be shared by his brother, the foreign secretary David Miliband, and universities secretary John Denham, while Commons leader Harriet Harman is said to be worried the decision will damage Labour's electoral chances in south and west London, particularly given the Conservatives have said they will oppose the plans.

However, Hoon is known to be in favour of the third runway and has reportedly secured support from business secretary Peter Mandelson. The prime minister Gordon Brown is also thought to be in favour of a third runway on economic grounds.

Source: Bloomberg

Heathrow Airport's former chief executive lied to get Terminal Five

2008-12-16T02:33:00.000Z

The past and present bosses of Heathrow Airport have spun a web of lies in order to get a third runway, it has been revealed.

John Stewart, chairman of anti-expansion group HACAN today sourced letters and interviews in which BAA's previous chief executive lied to get a third runway.

Sir John Egan has been quoted as saying in a letter to residents towards the start of the Terminal Five Inquiry in 1995: “T5 does not call for a third runway.”

When asked about this promise on Wednesday December 10 at the Heathrow Consultative Committee, BAA's director of strategy, Mike Forster, said: “Well, that's what he had to say to get permission for Terminal 5.”

In another “Dear neighbour” letter in April 1999, Sir Egan, said: “We have since repeated often that we do not want, nor shall we seek, an additional runway.

“I can now report that we went even further at the Inquiry and call on the Inspector to recommend that, subject to permission being given for T5, an additional Heathrow runway should be ruled out forever.”

He added: “Our position could not be clearer, T5 will not lead to a third runway.”

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said: “We now know it was all lies. For some time now we have ceased to believe anything BAA says.

“The existence of Father Christmas is less of a fairy tale than the promises of BAA.”

At the end of November this year, BAA called on the government to appoint an independent assessor of noise and air quality if it wins approval for a third runway, to ensure limits are not breached.

BAA's current chief executive, Colin Matthews, said: “By calling on an independent assessor to scrutinise the airport's performance against these limits, we are providing an uncompromising assurance that we will operate Heathrow airport within the limits laid down by government.”

Mr Stewart added: “This time round nobody is taking any notice of BAA's so-calle

Source: AFP

Oman Air moves to Heathrow airport

2008-12-16T02:22:00.001Z

Oman Air has secured valuable slots at London’s Heathrow airport to launch non-stop flights from Heathrow to Muscat in Oman. Oman Air currently operates a daily service to Muscat from London Gatwick but will move its operation to Heathrow from 15 January 2009.

Flights will conveniently depart Heathrow at 2130, arriving Muscat the following morning at 0845, in time for a full day’s business or a day at leisure. Return flights depart Muscat at 1320 and arrive at Heathrow at 1740, offering ample connecting time for regional departures throughout the UK and Ireland.

The flights will continue to be operated with a wide-bodied Airbus A310 aircraft, offering both a Business Class and Economy Class service. The airline’s new state-of-the-art Airbus A330 aircraft, due to be delivered from the manufacturer next summer, will be placed on the route from August 2009.

At the same time Oman Air will also vastly improve its connectivity at Muscat, offering many convenient onward connections from Heathrow to destinations throughout the Gulf region and India.

Oman Air currently operates a fleet of 2 Airbus A310 aircraft, 10 Boeing 737 aircraft and 4 ATR 42 aircraft to 27 destinations worldwide

Source: Oman Air

British Airways aims to become the world's first 'global airline' but Richard Branson will fight it all the way

2008-12-15T01:53:00.002Z

As the aviation industry struggles to navigate the most extreme economic turbulence in its history, it suddenly looks as if the wave of consolidation that has threatened to rip through some of the world's biggest airlines has finally hit.
In one corner sits Willie Walsh, the plucky Irishman in charge of British Airways, who is attempting to create the world's first "global airline". Walsh has already sought anti-trust immunity for a joint venture with American Airlines. In his sights now is Fernando Conte's Iberia and Alan Joyce's Qantas. The airline has confirmed it is discussing possible merger deals with both Qantas and Iberia. If successful it would create an aviation behemoth with three major hubs on two continents.

As Walsh tries to keep all his negotiations on track, breathing down his neck is Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chief executive of Lufthansa, who next month will have mobilised enough firepower to mount a serious attack on British Airways' lucrative transatlantic routes. Mayrhuber has already announced a potential "transformational" deal with Sir Michael Bishop's Bmi. In January the German group will take an 80% controlling stake in Bmi and with it a much sought-after pile of slots at Heathrow.

Not wanting to be left out of the party, Virgin Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson has confirmed his airline will discuss a possible cooperation deal with Lufthansa to make his airline "a stronger competitor to British Airways than we are today". Branson also has his eye on Bmi. He believes Virgin's long-haul operations would sit well with Bmi's predominantly short-haul business.

"Talks will take place with Lufthansa, maybe are taking place, to see whether it makes sense for the two companies to work together," said Branson from the sidelines of a nuclear disarmament event in Paris.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has made a fresh bid to buy rival Irish carrier Aer Lingus, while Flybe is rumoured to be in talks to take over Bmi's regional and low-cost subsidiaries. Then there is the small matter of Italy's failed carrier Alitalia, which has attracted the attention of both Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa. With this amount of activity in the marketplace it is little surprise that analysts are referring to it as "merger mania".

"The magic formula is synergy," says aviation expert and author of The World's Major Airlines, David Wragg. "There is still a lot of capacity that can be taken out of the marketplace. We still have far more airlines than is economically plausible and in many respects they have not experienced the same amount of pressures from globalisation that other industries have experienced."

With the airline industry embroiled in its most transformational period since the creation of the commercial jet airline, analysts are now asking who will survive the shakeout and more importantly what will this mean for the consumer.

Consolidation has arrived as carriers try to seek shelter from sky-high fuel costs and falling passenger numbers. Latest traffic figures show that the number of passengers travelling through BAA's seven UK airports in November has fallen by a million, or 8.9%, on last year.

Worst hit has been European charter traffic, which has dropped 17%, while domestic traffic has fallen 12.7% and European 9.1%. On top of this the airlines have had to deal with high oil prices. Although oil is presently hovering around the $45 a barrel mark it was high in the summer months, the traditional time when airlines build their profits. Fuel accounts for between 30% and 50% of airlines' operational costs and in the past year the price of jet kerosene has more than doubled. British Airways' fuel bill has risen from 10% of its cost base in 2000 to around 40%. It estimates that its fuel bill will rise to £2.5bn by 2009, a 20% hike on the previous year.

"High oil prices are here to stay," says one aviation analyst. "The airline industry is having to deal with that, and consolidation is one way out of it. The other, of course, is to create as fuel-efficient a fleet as possible."

In Europe the market is contracting into three groups. By far the biggest is Air France-KLM, which has its eyes on Alitalia, the bankrupt Italian flag-carrier. It is followed by Lufthansa, which has bought Swiss Air, is in the process of trying to acquire Austrian Airlines, and once the Bmi deal has completed will have access to 11% of the takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow, which is second only to British Airways.

Lufthansa is expected to use its financial strength to upgrade Bmi's fleet of 54 aircraft and challenge BA on some of its most lucrative routes. A spokesman for the company said all options were being considered, but analysts speculate that Heathrow slots to UK regional airports such as Belfast and Durham Tees Valley may be sacrificed in favour of more lucrative transatlantic routes.

The third group centres around BA. If Walsh can pull off the merger with Qantas and Iberia his next step will be the US.

"It is only a matter of time before there is a transatlantic merger. If BA can do the Qantas and Iberia deals it will clearly establish itself as a credible and serious competitor in the market," said Gert Zonnefeld, an analyst at Panmure Gordon.

Others are more sceptical. "I can't see an international airline being created," says David Wragg. "There are all sorts of problems. Where would the head office be? Who will have safety oversight over the airline? And while it may be good news for the airlines and also for their shareholders it will be very bad news for the customer."

Amid all the brinkmanship, clandestine negotiations, rumour and counter-rumour, Virgin's vociferous opposition to British Airways being allowed to get any bigger at Heathrow remains a constant.

"You can see the world consolidating down to a certain number of carriers and it would be very disappointing if each carrier had their own little turf which they control," said Virgin Atlantic chief operating officer Lyell Strambi. "It would be a very boring world, a very controlled world. I don't think it is remotely desirable. I think it would be very bad for UK aviation.

"There's a golden opportunity here to create two very big carriers. Heathrow's a big enough market to have two home-based carriers and it would be a bit disappointing if that was sacrificed to suit a monopoly."

Analysts say next year will bring even more consolidation as more airlines continue to collapse amid the economic storm. On Friday Colm Barrington, chief executive of Aer Lingus, said he was looking for a friendly investor to take a majority stake in the airline and stave off a £670m bid from Ryanair. Barrington said he had not identified a perfect partner for Aer Lingus, but said from a consumer and a country point of view Air France KLM "would be a better option than Ryanair".

If Ryanair is unsuccessful with Aer Lingus it will look elsewhere, snapping up smaller regional carriers such as bmibaby. As negotiations continue, one thing remains constant: the growing speculation surrounding the industry.

Source: Reuters

BAA's air passenger numbers drop 8.9% in November

2008-12-15T01:49:00.002Z

Air traffic fell sharply in November registering the biggest decline since November 2001, when the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US helped to plunge global aviation into recession.

Passenger numbers at BAA's seven UK airports fell last month by 8.9 per cent year-on-year from 10.8m to 9.8m - by far the steepest monthly year-on-year de-cline since traffic began to weaken in April. The pace of the decline has been accelerating since September.

As well as passenger numbers at the airports, the volume of flights moving through UK airspace is in sharp decline as airlines cut their schedules and ground aircraft to try to bring capacity more into line with falling demand for air travel.

Nats, the air traffic control service, said November, the first full month of the winter travel schedules, had shown a 9.8 per cent decrease in the number of flights it had handled from 188,000 to 169,500.

The steep fall in passenger numbers is hitting BAA just as it is trying to sell Gatwick airport. It could soon be facing a demand from the Competition Commission to dispose as well of Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports in order to improve competition.

Traffic at Gatwick fell by 13.5 per cent year-on-year in November. The airport has been hit by the recent collapse of several carriers including Zoom Airlines, XL Airways and Denmark's Sterling Airlines.

It has also suffered in particular from the transfer of a large number of its US long-haul services to Heathrow as a result of the US/European Union "open skies" treaty.

Both American Airlines and Continental Airlines have closed their Gatwick bases, and British Airways has transferred several US long-haul services from Gatwick to Heathrow.

BAA said Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe measured by passenger numbers, was proving the most resilient of its UK airports to the deepening recession with a fall of 4.8 per cent partly because of its greater share of the stronger long-haul markets.

By contrast Stansted, the most important airport in Europe for low-cost airlines, suffered a fall of 13.2 per cent under the impact in particular of the cut in flights by Ireland's Ryanair. The carrier has grounded 15 aircraft at the airport for a large part of the winter

to eliminate loss-making routes.

Monthly traffic numbers at Stansted have been falling for 13 months in succession year-on-year, but the drop in November was by far the steepest decline.

Passenger numbers at Glasgow fell by 15.6 per cent in November, the sharpest drop of any BAA airport, with numbers at the Scottish airports, including Edinburgh and Aberdeen, declining by 11.5 per cent.

Volumes at the three London airports Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted fell by 8.4 per cent overall.

Many airlines that have already reduced capacity for the winter are also preparing to reduce flights in the next summer season. British Airways, for example, is due to remove four more aircraft from its Gatwick operations, cutting departures at the airport by 15 per cent. Ground staff there are being reduced by 8 per cent.

Source: Financial Times

Airports in Europe to run out of space by 2030

2008-12-15T00:47:00.000Z

Despite the current economic crisis, European passenger traffic is expected to increase from the current 10 million per annum to 20.4 million by 2030, a report has forecast.

In its study, Challenges of Growth, Eurocontrol also forecasts that 20 of the largest airports in Europe will be saturated by 2030, with 11 per cent of flights not being accommodated on the ground. This sends a strong warning about the need for the European Union to align capacity on the ground with capacity in the air.

Eurocontrol believes that demand in the long term is still set to rise despite the economic downturn and prospect of slower growth in the short term brought about by maturing European markets and higher fuel-related costs.

As a consequence, airports are going to run out of space, and – according to David Marsh, Manager of Forecasting and Statistics – "with half of each day's flights going through one of the saturated airports, a small delay at one airport could rapidly escalate to infect the whole European air network".

One flight in two faces congestion, delays and cancellation by 2030, Eurocontrol said. As a result of the lack of airport capacity and climate change, one flight in two will risk delays or cancellation at highly congested airports, it added.

The study finds that even taking the economic downturn into account, demand for flights in Europe will rise from 10 million today to 20.4 million in 2030. Even though airports are working to make the most of their capacity and expanding to meet demand, on current plans, they will only be able to handle 18.1 million of those flights, leaving 2.3 million a year or 6,300 flights a day unaccommodated. That equates to 170 million passengers being affected each year.

As a result, airport congestion is set to rise substantially. By 2030, about 20 of the largest airports will be saturated, that is to say operating at full capacity for eight hours or more a day.

The risk of delay will be higher because weather-related delays are likely to be more common, Eurocontrol said. "Bouts of extreme weather will occur more frequently and probably be more severe, bringing further disruption to already saturated airports," it said.

As higher temperatures become the norm across Europe, holiday patterns are likely to change. While airlines will be able to change their routes to cope with this, airports, which require substantial infrastructure, are not so flexible.

Unusually persistent fog allied with freezing conditions caused three continuous days of virtually zero activity at the London region airports in early December 2007 and a cold snap in the same period this year promises much of the same, the study said.

"Although that is hardly symbolic of global warming, the other side of the equation is the prediction that large parts of southern Europe, and especially the still highly popular Spanish Costas, will become too hot to live in, never mind take a vacation at, within 50 years. Similar claims have been made about the Gulf states," Eurocontrol said.

Marsh said: "Prosperity in Europe relies on the smooth movement of people and goods, and the air transport industry has a key role to play in this. Whatever capacity can be delivered at airports, the outlook is for a heavily congested future.

"Thanks to climate change, demand may be elsewhere than today. We need to start thinking of an agile air transport network, one that brings together people and technology so that it can react effectively both as the day's events unfold and as demand changes by the year, unencumbered by the 20th century concerns of national borders: a real Single European Sky, an agile pan- European system, if we are to cope with the challenges of the future."

While there are new airports opening or set to open in Spain (Ciudad Real, Castellon, Murcia, Lerida), and plans for them (mainly of the low-cost variety) in several others like Portugal (Lisbon), France (Nantes), Italy (Frosinone), Poland, Turkey and Ukraine, there is the reality of the decision on the third runway at London Heathrow being put back yet again, well into 2009.

And many doubt this critical project for London will ever see the light of day now.

ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec said: "The implications are clear. European airports need to be in a condition to develop further their infrastructure. For many of them, getting the licence to grow is an increasingly uphill struggle. Despite ever-evolving and genuinely ambitious environmental activities, airport capacity is becoming the flashing light that many local and national governments are all too reluctant to address.

"This also means that European airports already need to invest more in new facilities. This is no small challenge, particularly in the present economic and financial conditions."

Source: AFP

British Airways (BA) World Cargo to resume flights to Saudi Arabia

2008-12-15T00:42:00.001Z

In two separate developments, British Airways World Cargo has announced the resumption of services to Saudi Arabia and the launch of a new freighter operation in Latin America.

The UK carrier said Saudi services, which had been suspended in March 2005 due to reduced customer demand, would be restarted on March 29, 2009. There would be five flights a week to Jeddah and Riyadh out of London Heathrow's new Terminal 5. The former would be operated by B767 aircraft and the latter with B777 equipment.

Johnny Rubio, Area Commercial Manager, Middle East, Central Asia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, BA World Cargo, said: "Demand for services into Saudi has grown considerably as a result of significant increases in inward investment into the country and the ongoing importance of the oil market. We expect the bulk of cargo to reflect this investment with key commodities such as building materials and equipment designed for the oil industry."

Source: Associated Press

UK air traffic falls the most in 7 years as economy slows

2008-12-15T00:38:00.002Z

BAA Limited, owner of London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, said air traffic in the UK fell the most in seven years as the contracting economy dampened demand for air travel.

Passenger numbers at BAA's seven airports in Britain dropped for an eighth straight month, tumbling 8.9 per cent to 9.8 million travellers in November from 10.8 million a year earlier, the London-based company said Friday in a statement.

The decline was the biggest since November 2001, when people avoided flying following the September 11 attacks in the US.

The International Air Transport Association, the airline industry's main trade organisation, estimates that international and domestic passenger traffic will decline 3 per cent next year, the first drop since 2001.

Carriers including British Airways Plc, Heathrow's biggest user, are cutting capacity as they struggle with waning demand.

"Airport traffic trends are set to get worse as the economic crisis bites and airline capacity cuts are implemented," Andrew Fitchie, a London-based analyst at Collins Stewart, said in a research report. "For this reason, we believe the outlook will deteriorate at BAA."

Grupo Ferrovial SA, the Spanish construction company that owns BAA, fell as much as 8.7 per cent to 20.45 euros (Dh75.1) on Friday.

The stock has fallen 57 per cent this year, valuing the Madrid based builder at 2.91 billion euros (10.7 billion).

Fraport AG's Frankfurt airport, Europe's third-busiest, and Flughafen Wien AG's Vienna International airport both reported traffic declines in November that were the biggest since December 2001.

National Air Traffic Services, the agency overseeing UK airspace, said that the number of flights entering, leaving or flying over the country fell 9.8 per cent from a year earlier to 169,539 in November.
BAA's traffic declines were led by its three London airports.

Source: Bloomberg

Aer Lingus: Heathrow Shannon may return

2008-12-15T00:35:00.000Z

Aer Lingus may consider resuming short-haul flights from Shannon, including restoring the Heathrow route, The Sunday Business Post has learned.

Informed sources have said that the airline will consider bringing back the route, with the possibility of two slots on the back of cost savings at Shannon. The move is a response to Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary’s promise to restore Shannon-Heathrow flights if his €748 million takeover bid for the airline is successful.

It comes after Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion’s announcement last Friday, that the airline was to remove all fuel surcharges on its long-haul services booked on flights from today.

Source: Reuters

UK Environment secretary Hilary Benn criticises Heathrow plans

2008-12-15T00:23:00.003Z

The government should ditch plans to expand Heathrow if pollution levels are not dramatically cut, Environment Minister Hilary Benn told The Sunday Times.

A controversial government decision on building a third runway at Heathrow, the world's biggest international passenger air hub, has been delayed until next month as ministers continue to thrash out the pros and cons.

The issue has sparked strong opinions, pitting business groups and airlines against environmental organisations and local residents.

In an expression of apparent concern about the impact of a third runway, Benn said he was "determined" to honour commitments to meet environmental pledges.

Benn said Heathrow already breached European Union limits on air pollution but its opt-outs on those directives run out by 2015, by which time Britain has pleged to get emissions below the limits.

"We have to achieve the environmental objectives. We have to honour that commitment and I am determined that we will," Benn told the weekly broadsheet.

"We have a problem with nitrogen dioxide around Heathrow, principally the road traffic, some of it is the aircraft."

Benn was sceptical about arguments that "green" technological improvements to air transport would allow Heathrow to meet the EU limits in time while expanding capacity.

"Obviously, there is technological change affecting airports, but, come what may, we will come to a point in 2011 with particulates and 2015 with nitrogen dioxide when we will have to be meeting the terms of the directives.

"That is regardless of whether the decision has been taken," to expand Heathrow, he said.

Benn said there would be serious consequences if Britain failed to meet the EU pollution limits.

"You are then in trouble with the (European) Commission, you get infraction proceedings and then off you go -- which is not something we can contemplate," he said.

The government had pledged to reach a decision on expansion of Heathrow by the end of this year.

In 2003 the government published a draft outline of legislation supporting expansion of the airport and has maintained its backing for building a third runway.

The opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5 in March was dogged with problems and was branded a "national embarrassment" in a report by lawmakers last month.

Some lawmakers are worried that unless Heathrow expands its capacity then international business will head to more convenient European destinations.

Sourse: AFP - Agence France-Presse

Heathrow airport voted least favourite airport

2008-12-13T07:23:00.000Z

Heathrow airport has been voted the worst airport in the world by frequent flyers.

When asked “Which airport do you think is the worst in the world?” 15% of respondents worldwide voted for Heathrow. In equal second place for the worst airport in the world, but with a mere 5% of the vote each, were Paris Charles de Gaulle and Los Angeles LAX airports.

Among British voters Heathrow fared even worse. Thirty percent of them voted for Heathrow, followed by 5% for Gatwick, 4% for Los Angeles LAX and 3% for Paris Charles de Gaulle.

The frequent travellers, who take an average of 19 flights a year, were also asked to name their favourite airport. Among travellers worldwide Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok was voted best airport, with 13%. Runner up was Singapore Changi with 11%, followed by Amsterdam Schiphol with 7% and Dubai World Central airport with 5%.

British travellers saw things slightly differently, with 17% voting Singapore Changi their favourite airport. Amsterdam Schiphol was runner up with 11%, followed by Dubai World Central airport with 9% and Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok with 7%.

The frequent flyers quizzed are all members of the Priority Pass airport VIP lounge programme. Priority Pass provides frequent travellers with access to airport lounges regardless of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline loyalty programme.

There are more encouraging signs for Heathrow in the future, however. “Heathrow’s reputation remains battered after a series of PR disasters in the last year or so, but there are signs that Terminal 5 may be able to swing opinion back in the long-term,” comments Priority Pass brand director, Jonathan French.

In March this year Priority Pass members voted for their favourite airport lounge. The overall winner was the Continental Presidents Club airport lounge in Terminal E at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Texas.

Best airport lounge in Europe was the Swiss-Lounge in Y Terminal at EuroAirport, Basel-Mulhouse in Switzerland. The Holideck airport lounge in Terminal 4 at Heathrow airport was highly commended.

Source: Associated Press

Arik Air (Nigeria airline) Begins Daily Flight to London's Heathrow Monday

2008-12-13T07:18:00.000Z

Arik Air will from Monday, begin daily, non-stop service, from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to London Heathrow Terminal 2.

This will be the first international flight for the company since beginning operations on October 30, 2006.

Arik flight departs Lagos at 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving London at 5.30 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays; departing Lagos at 10.25 a.m. and arriving London at 3.55 p.m. Tuesdays; departing at 9.20 a.m. and arriving London at 2.50 p.m. and Fridays at 11.10 a.m. arriving Heathrow at 4.40 p.m.

Return flight will depart daily from Heathrow at 10.05 p.m. arriving Lagos at 5.30 a.m. the next morning.

The airline has acquired three brand new Airbus A340-500 long-range aircraft.

Arik will not only be the first airline in the country to operate the UK with a brand new aircraft, it will be the first airline in Nigeria and the entire African continent, to operate this ultra modern long-range variant of the Airbus A340 family.

Capable of the flying both transatlantic and transpacific routes non-stop, the A340-500 is one of the quietest, environmentally friendly aircraft in the world.

Arik Air Chairman, Joseph Arumemi-Johnson said, "We are extremely proud and thrilled to announce the launch of our first international service between Lagos and London Heathrow.

I believe that this route is underserved and our entry just in time for the holiday season will connect Nigerians in the Diaspora with their friends and families.

Source: allAfrica.com

Heathrow: Third runway opponents angry at decision delay

2008-12-11T22:13:00.002Z

Environmental activists have vowed to increase action against British airports after Monday’s security breach at Stansted Airport, citing Heathrow Airport as their next target. Plane Stupid, the group behind the disruption at Stansted, said it intends to repeat the action at Heathrow, where plans are under consideration to build a third runway. Transport secretary Geoff Hoon will announce next month whether the proposed runway will go ahead.

"There are plans [to repeat the protest at Heathrow], absolutely," said Leyla Deen, a spokeswoman for Plane Stupid in an interview with The Guardian. "We intend to continue to directly challenge airport expansion. We have only seven years to begin to get our carbon emissions down in Britain, and our carbon emissions are still going up. This is the only responsible thing to do."

More than 50 demonstrators from the group cut through fencing of Stansted in the early hours of Monday morning, in a protest against plans to build a second runway. The airport was forced to close for five hours, resulting in tens of thousands of passengers stranded as dozens of flights were cancelled and many others seriously delayed.

The protesters used bolt-cutters to break through a perimeter fence at 3.15am and set up their protest camp. They chained and bolted themselves to security fencing they brought in with them. It took police hours to cut them free and it was not until 8.30am - almost five hours after the protest had started - that the airport was able to resume flights. Officers arrested 57 activists and took them away in an airport shuttle bus.

Ryanair cancelled 52 flights in and out of the airport. In a statement it called for an investigation “as to why the BAA Stansted security has once again failed to keep Stansted secure and open to the travelling public”. Ryanair went on: “It is unacceptable that the travel plans of thousands of passengers have been disrupted because BAA Stansted security have failed to remove a number of protesters.”

Plane Stupid issued a statement saying the disruption had stopped “the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere”. The lobby group said aviation was the fastest growing source of emissions and already contributed to at least 13 per cent of the UK’s carbon budget.

In October the government gave the go ahead for construction of a second runway at Stansted. Last month, another organisation, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE), launched a High Court appeal against the decision. SSE said the Government was disregarding the climate change and noise impacts of the expansion at the Essex airport. Airport officials said there would be a review of airport security but also defended the quick action taken. “We do not run a fortress, we run an airport. Security staff and police intercepted the protesters and no-one got on to the runway,” a spokesman said.

A statement from the airport added: “We are happy to engage in serious debates on airport expansion, and we respect people's right to protest within the bonds of the law. However, any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport is unacceptable. “People should engage in the relevant independent planning inquiries in an open, honest and safe way. We will, of course, investigate this incident and where there are lessons to learn we will do so.”

Source: France Press

Virgin Atlantic challenges British Airways (BA) with BMI bid

2008-12-11T01:01:00.003Z

Virgin Atlantic is in talks to buy rival bmi in a deal that could create an even stronger competitor to British Airways.

The aviation industry is undergoing a once in a generation transformation as a wave of mergers promises to create a stronger breed of supercarrier.

BA (up 3.7p at 172.9p) is at the centre of this, trying to woo both Iberia and Qantas.

The flag carrier is also romancing American Airlines into a joint venture that could see them share revenues and overheads on valuable transatlantic routes.

Virgin has been a vocal critics of BA's expansion plans, saying it wants to create a 'monster monopoly' that would hurt consumers.

But Virgin reckons its proposals for bmi would not hurt competition as there is no overlap between their businesses.

It confirmed that it is holding talks with Lufthansa 'regarding the future of bmi'. Virgin added: 'These discussions may or may not lead to an agreement.'

An industry source said Virgin is examining various options, including a straight acquisition of bmi from Lufthansa, a three-way deal, or Virgin Group giving up some of its stake in Virgin Atlantic to Lufthansa to help pay for the deal.

Analysts said bmi was worth about £480m last year, but its value is thought to have fallen since then.

Buying bmi would add a network of short and mediumhaul routes to Virgin's long range flights.

The icing on the cake is that bmi comes with 12% of the precious take-off and landing slots at Heathrow, where it is the second biggest carrier after BA. Virgin only has 3% of Heathrow slots.

The battle for bmi kicked off in October when founder Michael Bishop agreed to sell his 50% plus one share to German giant Lufthansa, giving it a stake of 80%.

It is thought Lufthansa has no interest in retaining subsidiaries bmibaby and bmi Regional - low-cost carrier FlyBe is thought to be interested in those businesses.

Source: United Press International

American Express Foreign Exchange launches festive promotion at London Heathrow Airport

2008-12-11T00:58:00.000Z

UK. American Express Foreign Exchange is giving away €50 or US$50 in travellers cheques to the first 200 customers passing through Terminals one, three and four at London Heathrow Airport that purchase either €1000 or US$1000 or more in travellers cheques in a single transaction.

Customers purchasing US$1000 in travellers cheques will receive an extra US$50 in travellers cheques. Similarly, customers purchasing €1000 in travellers cheques will receive an extra €50.

The offer is available to the first 200 customers or before the end of the promotion, whichever is earlier, at any American Express Bureau de Change in London Heathrow Airport. The promotion runs from 1 December to 31 December.

Source: Associated Press

NTSB investigates Heathrow-like Trent 800 engine issue

2008-12-11T00:57:00.000Z

US NTSB senior investigator Bill English is meeting with Boeing regarding an in-flight power rollback on the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 895 engine powering a Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200ER during a 26 November flight.

English earlier this year took part in the UK air accident investigation branch's analysis of a Trent-powered British Airways 777-200ER landing accident at London Heathrow International Airport. The gliding touchdown 300m short of the runway destroyed the aircraft but caused no fatalities among the 136 passengers and 16 crew. An NTSB spokesman says English is "looking into the incident" with an eye on seeing if there are similarities with the BA accident.

Investigators in that case have identified water icing as the likely cause of the fuel restriction and dual-engine rollback in that accident, though the final report is not yet complete.

FAA in September issued an airworthiness directive calling on operators of 777-200 and -300 aircraft equipped with Trent engines to revise flight manuals to include in-flight procedures for pilots to follow during certain cold-weather conditions and for operations on the ground.

In the latest incident, the NTSB says Delta Flight 18, enroute from Shanghai to Atlanta at 39,000ft, experienced an "uncommanded rollback" on the right hand Rolls-Royce Trent 895 engine.

"Initial data indicates that following the rollback, the crew descended to FL310 (approximately 31,000ft) and executed applicable flight manual procedures," according to the agency's preliminary report. "The engine recovered and responded normally thereafter," investigators state, adding, "The flight continued to Atlanta where it landed without further incident."

English and his team are analyzing the aircraft's flight data recorder "and other applicable data and components" retrieved from the aircraft, according to the report.

A Delta spokesman says the airline "will partner closely with (the NTSB) and comply with any recommended actions as soon as possible to ensure that there is no operational impact to our customers or communities."

Source: Reuters

Kingfisher Airlines to launch new service between Mumbai and Heathrow

2008-12-11T00:42:00.001Z

Kingfisher Airlines has announced that it will launch a new daily service between Mumbai and London Heathrow on January 5th.

The inaugural flight will depart from Mumbai at 13:50 local time and arrive at Heathrow's Terminal 4 at 17:55 GMT, with the return flight leaving at 20:30 GMT and arriving back in India at 11:00 the next morning.

Commenting on the new route, Vijay Mallva, chairman and chief executive officer of Kingfisher Airlines, said: "Given the strong linkages between India and the United Kingdom, we believe that there is untapped potential and this new route promises to serve the unmet needs of discerning corporate and leisure flyers to these destinations."

The service will be Kingfisher's second international route after the Bangalore to London flight was launched on September 3rd.

Kingfisher was recently granted approval by India's government to operate flights on a number of new routes, including Mumbai to Hong Kong and Mumbai to Singapore.

The airline announced in October that it had launched three new services connecting India's commercial capital with Nanded and Latur.

Source: France Press

Climate campaigners vow to target Heathrow airport

2008-12-09T16:55:00.001Z

Environmental activists have vowed to target Heathrow as they step up their campaign against British airport expansion.
Protesters breached a security fence at Stansted airport on Monday and closed its runway, resulting in flight cancellations and disruptions for thousands of passengers.

Members of a group called Plane Stupid, which campaigns against climate change and air travel, chained themselves to a makeshift barrier close to the runway at London’s third main airport after cutting through the fence.

While 57 protesters were arrested, a spokeswoman for the group, which was demonstrating against a British government decision to allow the airport to build a second runway, said it intended to repeat the action at Heathrow.

“There are plans (to repeat the protest at Heathrow), absolutely,” The Guardian quoted Leyla Deen as saying.
“We intend to continue to directly challenge airport expansion.”

The British government is considering controversial plans to build a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, the world’s busiest international airport.
A decision was expected by Christmas, but the government last week postponed making an announcement until January.

Ms Deen said: “If Heathrow goes ahead we will have 1000 people on the runway”.

Another protest group, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise ClearSkies, has said it plans to unleash a series of protests in the New Year, should the British government approve an expansion.

Meanwhile, Monday’s protest prompted budget Irish airline Ryanair, which cancelled more than 50 flights, to call for an urgent review of security at Stansted, which serves as its main hub.

Activist Lily Kember, 21, said protesters entered the airport, erected fencing around themselves and sat on a site near where aircraft taxi before taking off and after landing.
“Being arrested is a terrifying prospect, but not nearly as terrifying as the threat of climate change,” she said.

Stansted commercial manager Nick Barton said the activists had driven up to the airport in an “old fire engine”.
“It probably didn’t look out of place, in all honesty, as there are a number of emergency services vehicles around the site,” he said.
He said airport security staff had prevented the activists from reaching the runway.
“Our site is 2000 acres in size and the perimeter is enormous,” he said.
“But they were stopped well short of the runway.”
He said he hoped the airport would be able to “recover quite well” from the impact of the protest, but admitted it would cause delays.

One passenger affected by the disruption, Lainey Mace, from Norfolk in eastern England, said the protesters had won little support among travellers.
“They have caused great inconvenience,” she said.

A statement from Plane Stupid said aviation was the fastest-growing source of emissions and already contributed to at least 13 per cent of Britain’s carbon emissions.
It said the disruption to flights would prevent “the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere”.

The group has staged other high-profile demonstrations.
In February, members climbed onto the roof of the Houses of Parliament to protest against the Heathrow expansion proposal.

Source: Australian Associated Press

Heathrow robbery trial halted for third time

2008-12-09T16:50:00.002Z

The third trial in the case of an armed robbery of a cash depot at Heathrow Airport has collapsed after five months.

The February 2004 robbery at Menzies World Cargo netted the thieves £1.75m, which has never been recovered.

Judge Jeremy Roberts told the jury at the Old Bailey the move could not be avoided, despite an estimated cost of bringing the trial of £22m.
The four accused will appear next week to set a new trial date.

In the course of a major criminal trial like this one, events sometimes occur which create the risk of real injustice

The reasons behind halting the trial and dismissing the jury cannot be reported.
Alleged robber John Twomey, 60, of New Milton, Hampshire, will now face his fourth trial.
Co-accused Peter Blake, of Notting Hill, and Barry Hibberd, of Shepherd's Bush, both in west London, will be tried for the third time.
A fourth man, Glen Cameron, of Kenilworth Road, New Milton, will be tried for the second time.
All four men deny charges of conspiracy to rob and to possess firearms.

During the raid, six masked men rounded up members of staff at gunpoint in what police allege was an "inside job", the court was told.
Mr Twomey first faced trial in 2005 when proceedings against him were stopped for health reasons.

He was retried in February 2007 alongside co-accused Mr Blake and Mr Hibberd, but after the six month trial, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.
The third trial, this time with co-accused Mr Cameron, began in July of this year.

Judge Roberts thanked the jurors for their service.
"In the course of a major criminal trial like this one, events sometimes occur which create the risk of real injustice or unfairness to one side or the other and sometimes those events are so serious that the trial cannot continue.

"That is what has happened in this case. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to give you any further information about what has occurred."

Source: Reuters

British Airways (BA) delays transfer of flights between Terminal 1 and 3 at Heathrow Airport

2008-12-09T16:43:00.001Z

British Airways has rescheduled the transfer of flights from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport.

Flights between Heathrow and Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice and Helsinki were due to move on 27 January 2009, however, the move will now take place on 25 February 2009.

BA is advising customers with BA, Iberia and Finnair codeshare flights between 27 January and 25 February to check which terminal their flight will depart from.

For up-to-date Heathrow airport information and to book Heathrow corporate airport parking and Heathrow hotels click on the links.

Source: British Airways

Climate Rush at Heathrow 12th January

2008-12-09T16:38:00.000Z

On Monday 12th January 2009 at 7pm the Climate Rush will hit Heathrow. We will arrive in Edwardian dress (under a big coat!) with hampers of food to have our 'Dinner at Domestic Departures'. This will be an action against the construction of the third runway and the unsustainable use of short-haul, national flights. It will take place on the day that the MPs return from their winter holiday.

When the string quartet plays its first note we will reveal our dress and share our food. Ours will be the first peaceful sit-in of the environmental movement. Hundreds will join us and together we will make history. We have waited too long and been misled too many times. It is time for us to take control and to lead social change.

After a hugely successful storming of Parliament, The Climate Rush is back in town!

Any day now the government will announce its plans to expand Heathrow and no amount of marching or letter-writing will make them stop. Sipson Village will be demolished. Millions of Londoners will find themselves under new flight-paths. The UK will continue to lag behind the rest of Europe and the world as it misses climate target after climate target.

It is time to take our future into our own hands. It is time to take action.

You and all of your friends, networks and neighbours are cordially invited to our 'Dinner at Domestic Departures', 7pm on Monday 12th January at Heathrow Airport Terminal One. Join 'The Climate Rush', 'Climate Action Now', 'The Women's Environmental Network' and Caroline Lucas MEP as we celebrate the UK public's commitment to beating climate change.

Source: Climate Rush

Ramada Jarvis opens Heathrow hotel

2008-12-08T23:04:00.000Z

Ramada Jarvis has announced the completion of its £27 million London Heathrow Hotel, located close to all London Heathrow terminals and the M4 and M25 motorways.

The 200-bedroom hotel features a bar and restaurant area with a brasserie menu, ‘Grab and Go’ early morning breakfast for guests with early morning flights and a plasma television screen. The reception area contains screens detailing departure information and the Heathrow Hoppa bus service collects customers from outside the hotel every 45 minutes.

All 200 bedrooms come with flat screen LCD televisions, tea and coffee making facilities, safety deposit boxes and complimentary ‘The White Company’ toiletries. A 24-hour room service menu is available too.

Disabled guests are also catered for with five well-equipped, specially adapted bedrooms.
Group rates are negotiable.

Source: Reuters

Emirates introduces Airbus superjumbo A380 on Heathrow flights

2008-12-07T06:29:00.003Z

Award winning long-haul airline Emirates has introduced the world’s biggest passenger aircraft on two of its flights from London Heathrow to Dubai.
Emirates will operate the 489-seater Airbus A380 “superjumbo” on flights EK001 and EK002, which leave Heathrow every day at 7.45am and 1.45pm respectively.
Spread over two levels, the whole of the upper deck of the aircraft is dedicated to Premium Class passengers. Towards the front, First Class passengers can relax in one of 14 flat-bed, massage-equipped private suites. These incorporate remote-controlled doors, a work desk, an electrically controlled mini-bar and one of the most advanced in-flight entertainment systems available. First class customers also have access to two onboard shower spas. Passengers in economy gain larger seats and wider aisles.
Despite its colossal size, Emirates said the A380 makes less than half the noise of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet and uses 20 per cent less fuel.
Emirates president, Tim Clark, said: “We are delighted to bring our customers state-of-the-art comforts which are unmatched anywhere else in the world.
“Despite today’s challenging economic environment, they have responded by booking every seat on our inbound and outbound flights.

Source: Associated Press

Punctuality improves at Heathrow (and Gatwick)

2008-12-07T06:20:00.004Z

There were fewer flight delays at Heathrow and Gatwick airports according to the latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority.

On-time performance at both Heathrow and Gatwick improved by 6% in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. On-time is defined as within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time.

At other London airports, Stansted and London City, on-time performance also improved, in both cases by 5%. But at Luton airport only 64% of flights were on time in the third quarter of 2008, a decline of 4% compared to 2007.

Outside London the biggest improvements in on-time performance were recorded at Scottish airports. At Edinburgh airport, there was a dramatic 10% improvement as 77% of flights left on time. Glasgow airport saw a 6% improvement as 76% of flights departed on time.

The CAA statistics also look at average flight delays at UK airports. The average delay for all the scheduled flights monitored fell by two minutes in the third quarter of 2008 to 17 minutes.

At Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle airports average delays decreased. But Luton airport was again the worst performer as average flight delays increased by three minutes to 20 minutes.

The CAA figures also provide useful guidance on which airports to avoid when flying abroad. Of the 75 scheduled and charter destinations handling the largest number of passengers in the third quarter of 2008, Athens airport had the worst on-time performance. Only just over half, 52%, of flights left on time from Athens airport. The highest average flight delay, of 29 minutes, was recorded by Toronto airport.

Beware of flying to Bodrum (Milas) airport in Turkey. This was the worst charter destination, with average flight delays of 35 minutes and on-time performance of just 55%.

The best performing airport of the top 75 scheduled and charter destinations was Rotterdam airport. Here on-time performance was a very creditable 85% and average delays only eight minutes.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Northern Foods wins British Airways (BA) contract

2008-12-07T06:08:00.001Z

Northern Foods has won a slice of British Airways' in-flight meals business, replacing Gate Gourmet in supplying meals and sandwiches for short-haul flights from Heathrow airport.

Three years ago BA had to cancel flights when an industrial dispute at Gate Gourmet spread to BA, meaning there were no in-flight meals for passengers.

Northern, the food manufacturer, will combine with DHL, the logistics company owned by Deutsche Post, on the 10-year contract. Northern said it was delighted to have been chosen by BA "based on the quality of our food".

The move takes Northern outside its supermarket customer base for the first time. Its biggest customer is Marks and Spencer, and it also supplies other major UK food retailers with own-label products and branded products such as Fox's biscuits and Goodfella's pizzas.

Northern had hinted previously that it was looking for new "channels" aside from retailers to diversify its customer base. Analysts speculated the deal could be followed by other similar contracts. Northern's shares closed up ½p at 54¾p.

BA said it opened a tendering process 18 months ago and looked at a range of options for its in-flight catering, which supplies about 100,000 meals a day and is worth £150m a year to its suppliers. BA said it had decided on the best combination of service and logistical capability. Unlike some low-cost airlines, BA provides free catering on its flights, including the shorter ones.

DHL is already a large supplier to "airside" caterers at Heathrow and has premises at the airport. Northern plans to make the food at its existing factories and deliver it to DHL, which will assemble the trays and handle the transfer to aircraft.

Gate Gourmet has retained the long-haul portion of the contract from Heathrow, while Alpha Flight, owned by Autogrill of Italy, is keeping the business for flights from Gatwick and other UK and Irish regional airports. Gate Gourmet said it was delighted to have kept the long-haul contract, which "reinforces our position as one of the market leaders in this sector".

BA said the decision to take the short-haul business away from Gate Gourmet was not a result of the problems the airline suffered in August 2005, when an industrial dispute at the caterer led to hundreds of flights being cancelled during the holiday season. The episode was expensive for BA and upset passengers.

At the time Gate Gourmet, which had been bought by Texas Pacific Group, the private equity firm, after the collapse of its previous owner, Swissair, was facing losses from its business with BA. In the aftermath of the dispute BA extended its contract to 2010 and increased its size in order to support Gate Gourmet.

Source: Reuters

Ryanair pledges to reinstate Shannon-Heathrow route

2008-12-06T13:58:00.001Z

Ryanair has pledged to reinstate the Shannon-Heathrow route and recognise unions at Aer Lingus should its takeover bid be successful.

It also promised to provide a €100 million bank guarantee to eliminate Aer Lingus’s fuel charge.

In a statement this evening, Ryanair outlined the case for its proposed €748 million merger with Aer Lingus which has been rejected by the Aer Lingus board.

Ryanair said as part of the merger deal it would give the Government control of Aer Lingus's takeoff and landing slots at London's Heathrow airport in order to guarantee the continuation of routes from Ireland.

"By giving watertight control over Aer Lingus' (Heathrow) slots, we effectively remove any need for the Irish government to retain a strategic shareholding," chief executive Michael O'Leary said.

Ryanair said the merger would see the return of the Shannon-Heathrow route with a minimum twice daily frequency.

The Heathrow slots needed to meet this commitment would be switched from one of Aer Lingus’s other Heathrow routes, it said.

Ryanair also pledged to provide another €100 million bank guarantee that Aer Lingus’ short haul fares would be reduced by a minimum of 5 per cent for a three year period.

Ryanair claimed the reductions in short haul fares and removal of fuel surcharges woulddeliver annual consumer savings of over €140 million.

Mr O'Leary met with Mr Dempsey and officials from his department at Leinster House at about 7pm last night to make his case for the deal.

Source: Associated Press

British Airways (BA) flight from Thailand on route to Heathrow

2008-12-06T13:55:00.002Z

British tourists that have been stranded in Thailand, some since early last week, will arrive back at Heathrow today on the first flight operated by British Airways out of Thailand since anti-government demonstrators closed Bangkok’s international airport.

British Airways officials announced that a relief flight, carrying approximately 160 passengers, would land at Heathrow on Friday afternoon.

The British carrier sent an empty plane to Phuket, the well-known resort in southern Thailand, to pick up its customers. Free coach transportation had been arranged for tourists to travel from Bangkok to Phuket in order to catch the flight.

A spokesman for BA said: “We have laid on a special flight from Phuket to Heathrow for our customers who have been unable to travel.

He went on to say: “It is a 272 seater aircraft with about 160 passengers on board. We bussed customers Bangkok down to Phuket so that they can catch the flight.”

The Boeing 777, which has a capacity for carrying 272 passengers, is expected to land at Heathrow at approximately 2:05pm local time.

According to the spokesman, the flight was not full as Qantas, BA’s oneworld partner, had already flown passengers back to the UK via Singapore.

The Bangkok international airport, Suvarnabhumi, has official reopened, but it is operating at only around 50 per cent capacity, with dozens of flights still cancelled.

Nearly 5,000 Britons were reportedly stranded in Thailand by the occupation of Bangkok’s airports by anti-government protesters.

Source: British Airways

Britain delays decision on Heathrow expansion

2008-12-06T13:48:00.002Z

Britain says it has delayed its decision on whether to build a third runway at London's Heathrow airport.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon says the decision will be made in January instead of this month as had been planned.

Airports operator BAA says Heathrow needs an extra runway by 2020 to cope with increased demand. Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport.

Campaigners have opposed the plan, saying expansion will increase noise pollution and harm the environment.

Some officials favor building a new airport rather than expanding Heathrow. London Mayor Boris Johnson has suggested a new site in the Thames River estuary, east of London.

Hoon said Thursday he will consider the issue further before making a decision on the runway.

Source: Associated press

Location

2008-06-29T16:42:00.000+01:00

Heathrow is located 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, England, near the southern end of the London Borough of Hillingdon and in the historic county of Middlesex. The airport stands on a parcel of land that was designated part of the London Metropolitan Green Belt. To the north, the airport is surrounded by the built-up areas of Harlington, Harmondsworth, Longford and Cranford. To the east are Hounslow and Hatton, and to the south are East Bedfont and Stanwell. To the west, the M25 motorway separates the airport from Colnbrook in Berkshire.

Welcome

2008-06-29T16:40:00.000+01:00

London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow, located in London, England, is the principal and biggest airport serving the United Kingdom. Heathrow is also Europe's busiest airport for passenger traffic, and handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the world. Heathrow is owned and operated by BAA, which also owns/operates six other UK airportsand is itself owned by an international consortium led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group. Heathrow is the primary hub of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and a major hub for bmi.

Underground Metro Train Access - Public Transport

2008-06-29T09:54:00.000+01:00

Heathrow Express: a non-stop service directly to London's Paddington station; trains leave every 15 minutes for the 15-minute journey, either from Terminal 5 or Heathrow Central (Terminals 1, 2, 3). Passengers transferring between these two stations on the Heathrow Express may use the service free of charge.
Heathrow Connect: a service to Paddington calling at up to five National Rail stations en route - trains leave every 30 minutes for the 25-minute journey. Heathrow Connect services use Heathrow Central station (Terminals 1, 2, 3) and terminate at Terminal 4 - passengers transferring between these two stations at Heathrow may use the service free of charge.
London Underground Piccadilly line: four tube stations serve the airport - Terminals 1, 2, 3; Terminal 4; Terminal 5 and Hatton Cross. The standard journey time from the Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 tube station to Central London is 40-50 minutes.

Underground / Metro London

(click on the map to enlarge)

Car Access

2008-06-29T09:26:00.000+01:00

Heathrow is accessible via the nearby M4 motorway and A4 road (Terminals 1–3), the M25 motorway (Terminals 4 and 5), and the A30 road (Terminal 4). There are drop off and pick up areas at all terminals and short and long stay multi-storey car parks. Additionally, there are car parks (not run by BAA) just outside the airport, these are connected to the terminals by shuttle buses. Heathrow airport is also served by taxi services.

Four parallel tunnels under one of the runways connect the M4 motorway and the A4 road to Terminals 1–3. The two larger tunnels are each two lanes wide and are used for motorised traffic. The two smaller tunnels were originally reserved for pedestrians and bicycles; to increase traffic capacity the cycle lanes have been modified to each take a single lane of cars, although bicycles still have priority over cars. Pedestrian access to the smaller tunnels has been discontinued, with the free bus services being the alternative.

Taxis Access

2008-06-29T09:23:00.000+01:00

Travelling by taxi is one of the most flexible ways to get around London.
Services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year subject to local availability.

All taxis take cash and some accept credit and debit cards.

Where to find taxis?

London licensed taxis stop at the taxi ranks outside each Heathrow terminal. To find out where to pick up a taxi Terminal 5, view our forecourt map.
In central London, taxis can be hailed on the street or booked through your hotel.

Taxi fares

The journey to central London costs between £40 and £70 and takes between 30 minutes and one hour. Journeys which are both inside London and within 20 miles of the airport are priced using the taxi meter. The fare for travel outside London should be agreed beforehand with the driver.

Fare’s Fair Scheme
A voluntary scheme is in place for journeys local to Heathrow outside London. Under this scheme, journeys to Spelthorne and the areas of Slough and Windsor are priced at £31 and £36 respectively.

Accessibility information
All licensed taxis are wheelchair accessible. Many include other features to make access easier and to assist those with hearing or sight impediments. Wheelchairs should be secured at all times. Taxis carry assistance dogs at no extra charge.
London taxi contact details
London taxis are licensed by Transport For London to operate in the Metropolitan Police District and are strictly regulated to ensure that high standards are maintained. If you do have any comments or complaints please contact:

Public Carriage Office
15 Penton Street
London
N1 9PU
United Kingdom
Telephone: 0845 602 7000

Bicycle Access

2008-06-29T09:22:00.000+01:00

There are (mainly off-road) bicycle routes almost to the terminals. Free bicycle parking places are available in car parks 1 and 1A, though use of the left-luggage services may be more secure. Free specialist maps showing cycle routes are published by Transport for London - 'London Cycling Guide 6' covers Terminals 1, 2 & 3 while 'London Cycling Guide 9' covers Terminal 4 (as of the June 2007 revision).

One coach on each Heathrow Connect train has an area reserved for wheelchairs and bicycles (wheelchairs have priority). Heathrow Express trains have space for three bicycles. There are rush-hour restrictions: unfolded bicycles are not allowed on trains due to arrive at Paddington between 07:45 and 09:45, or departing between 16:30 and 18:30, Monday to Friday.

If luggage and conditions permit, it is much cheaper (about one third the price) to travel by train between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington and then cycle the remaining two miles (3 km).

Bus Coach Access - Public Transport

2008-06-29T09:17:00.000+01:00

Long-distance coach services operated by National Express to various parts of the UK, including Victoria Coach Station in London.
A door-to-door London hotel shuttle bus service is operated by Dot2Dot from each terminal, and HotelHoppa buses connect each terminal with hotels in the Heathrow area.
There are four RailAir coach services connecting nearby railway stations with the airport using dedicated non-stop coaches. These run to:

Reading railway station, connecting with railway services to the West Country, South Wales, Midlands and south coast of England
Feltham railway station, for destinations on the South West Trains network in south-West London, Surrey and Berkshire, including Windsor (this has now been discontinued and replaced by the 285 bus service, as advertised on South West Trains)
Woking railway station, for places in Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire
Watford Junction railway station, for Virgin Trains and London Midland services to Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, the Midlands, north-west England and Scotland

Heathrow Airport has one of the United Kingdom's biggest bus stations, with many local bus services (Transport for London) to nearby London suburbs.

Terminal 1 - Airlines, Access

2008-06-29T09:16:00.000+01:00

Terminal 1 was opened in 1968 and was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1969. In 2005, a substantial redesign and redevelopment of Terminal 1 was completed, which saw the opening of the new Eastern Extension, doubling the departure lounge in size and creating additional seating and retail space. Terminal 1 handles most of Heathrow's domestic and Irish routes along with some long haul routes and European routes.

Airlines & Destinations:

Aer Lingus (Belfast-International, Cork, Dublin)
Air New Zealand (Auckland, Hong Kong, Los Angeles)
Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon)
bmi (Aberdeen, Addis Ababa, Aleppo, Almaty, Amman, Amsterdam, Ankara, Baku, Beirut, Belfast-City, Bishkek, Brussels, Cairo, Damascus, Dammam, Dublin, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Ekaterinburg, Freetown, Glasgow-International, Hanover, Istanbul, Jeddah, Jersey, Khartoum, Leeds/Bradford, Lyon, Manchester, Moscow-Domodedovo, Naples [seasonal], Palma de Mallorca, Riyadh, Tbilisi, Tehran-Imam Khomeini, Tel Aviv, Venice, Yerevan)

bmi Regional (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow-International, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester)

British Airways (Barcelona, Helsinki, Lisbon, Madrid, Nice)
Cyprus Airways (Larnaca, Paphos)
El Al Israel Airlines (Ovda [seasonal], Tel Aviv)
Finnair (Helsinki)
Icelandair (Reykjavik-Keflavik)
LOT Polish Airlines (Warsaw)
South African Airways (Cape Town, Johannesburg)
Transaero (Moscow-Domodedovo)
United Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver [ends October 25], Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington-Dulles)
US Airways (Philadelphia)

Terminal 2 - Airlines, Access

2008-06-29T09:15:00.000+01:00

Terminal 2 is Heathrow's oldest terminal and was opened as the Europa Building in 1955. Terminal 2, as well as the adjacent Queens Building, will close in 2008 after the opening of Terminal 5, to allow for the construction of the new Heathrow East terminal. According to BAA, Terminal 2 will be demolished in 2009. Terminal 2 handles mainly European routes.

Airlines & Destinations:

Aeroflot (Moscow-Sheremetyevo)
Air Algérie (Algiers)
Air Astana (Almaty)
Air France (Los Angeles, Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
Air Seychelles (Seychelles)
Air Transat (Toronto-Pearson)
Alitalia (Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino)

Alitalia Express (Milan-Linate)

Austrian Airlines (Vienna)

Austrian Arrows (Vienna)

Azerbaijan Airlines (Baku)
Bellview Airlines (Lagos)
Bulgaria Air (Sofia)
China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai-Pudong)
Clickair (La Coruña, Valencia)
Croatia Airlines (Rijeka, Split, Zagreb)
Czech Airlines (Prague)
Iberia Airlines (Barcelona, Madrid)
Iran Air (Tehran-Imam Khomeini)
Jat Airways (Belgrade)
Libyan Airlines (Tripoli)
Lufthansa (Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart)
Luxair (Luxembourg)
Olympic Airlines (Athens)
Rossiya (St. Petersburg)
Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca, Marrakesh)

Atlas Blue (Marrakesh, Tangier)

Swiss International Air Lines (Zürich, Geneva)
Syrian Arab Airlines (Damascus)
TAP Portugal (Faro, Funchal, Lisbon, Porto)
TAROM (Bucharest-Otopeni)
Tunisair (Tunis)
Uzbekistan Airways (Tashkent)
Yemenia (Aden, Cairo, Sana'a)

Terminal 3 - Airlines, Access

2008-06-29T09:13:00.000+01:00

Terminal 3 was opened as The Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961 to handle flight departures for long-haul routes. At this time the airport had a direct helicopter service to Central London from the gardens on the roof of the terminal building. The Oceanic Terminal was renamed as Terminal 3 in 1968 and was expanded in 1970 with the addition of an arrivals building. Other facilities were also added, including the UK's first moving walkways. In 2006, the new £105 million Pier 6 was completed in order to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo; Singapore Airlines now operate regular flights from Terminal 3 using the Airbus A380.

Airlines & Destinations:

Air Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver)
Air China (Beijing, Shanghai-Pudong)
Air India (Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Chicago-O'Hare, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Mumbai, New York-JFK)
Air Mauritius (Port Louis)
All Nippon Airways (Tokyo-Narita)
American Airlines (Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Raleigh/Durham)
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Dhaka, Dubai)
Blue1 (Helsinki)
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Antalya, Ercan, Izmir)
EgyptAir (Cairo, Luxor)
Emirates (Dubai)
Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa, Rome-Fiumicino)
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi)
EVA Air (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan)
Gulf Air (Bahrain)
Japan Airlines (Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita)
Jet Airways (Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
Kuwait Airways (Kuwait, New York-JFK)
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
Middle East Airlines (Beirut)
Pakistan International Airlines (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore)
Qatar Airways (Doha)
Royal Brunei Airlines (Bandar Seri Begawan, Dubai)
Royal Jordanian (Amman)
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh)
Scandinavian Airlines (Copenhagen, Gothenburg-Landvetter, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm-Arlanda)
Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
Thai Airways International (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)
Turkish Airlines (Ankara-Esenboga, Istanbul-Atatürk)
Turkmenistan Airlines (Ashgabat)
Virgin Atlantic (Boston, Cape Town, Chicago-O'Hare, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lagos, Los Angeles, Miami, Mumbai, Nairobi, New York-JFK, Newark, Port Louis, San Francisco, Shanghai-Pudong, Sydney, Tokyo-Narita, Washington-Dulles)
Virgin Nigeria (Lagos)

Terminal 4 - Airlines, Access

2008-06-29T09:12:00.000+01:00

Terminal 4 was constructed to the south of the southern runway next to the existing cargo terminal, away from the three older terminals, and was connected with Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by the already-existing Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. Terminal 4 was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in April 1986, and became the home for then newly-privatised British Airways.

Airlines & Destinations:

Air Malta (Malta-Luqa)
British Airways (Abu Dhabi, Accra, Bahrain, Baltimore/Washington, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Boston, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Calgary, Chennai, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Denver, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Entebbe, Grand Cayman, Houston-Intercontinental, Islamabad, Kolkata, Kuwait, Luanda, Lusaka, Mexico City, Montréal, Mumbai, Muscat, Nairobi, Nassau, Newark, Philadelphia, Port Louis, Providenciales, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Seattle/Tacoma, Shanghai-Pudong, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Dulles)
China Southern Airlines (Beijing) [begins March 2009]
Continental Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
Delta Air Lines (Atlanta, New York-JFK)
Kenya Airways (Nairobi)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam)

KLM Cityhopper (Rotterdam) [ends Winter 2008]

Northwest Airlines (Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle/Tacoma)
Qantas (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore, Sydney)
Sri Lankan Airlines (Colombo, Malé)
TAM Airlines (São Paulo-Guarulhos, Salvador [seasonal])

Terminal 5 - Airlines, Access

2008-06-29T09:11:00.000+01:00

The Heathrow Terminal 5 building is currently the largest free-standing building in the United Kingdom. The building cost £4bn and took 19 years to build from initial design to opening. The building's lead architect were from the Richard Rogers Partnership. Terminal 5 is currently used as a global hub by British Airways.

Airline & Destinations:

British Airways (Aberdeen, Abuja, Algiers, Amsterdam, Athens, Bangalore, Basel/Mulhouse, Beijing, Belgrade, Berlin-Tegel, Brussels, Bucharest-Otopeni, Budapest, Cairo, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Geneva, Glasgow-International, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Hyderabad [begins 27 October], Istanbul-Atatürk, Johannesburg, Kiev-Boryspil, Lagos, Larnaca, Los Angeles, Lyon, Malaga, Manchester, Miami, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Moscow-Domodedovo, Munich, Newcastle, New York-JFK, Oslo, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino, St. Petersburg, San Francisco, Sofia, Stockholm-Arlanda, Stuttgart, Tripoli, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver, Venice [begins 26 October], Vienna, Warsaw [begins 27 October], Zürich)

Resting places

2008-06-29T09:09:00.005+01:00

(information soon)

Check-in

2008-06-29T09:09:00.004+01:00

(information soon)

Book a Flight

2008-06-29T09:09:00.003+01:00

(information soon)

Shopping

2008-06-29T09:08:00.005+01:00

(information soon)

Car rental

2008-06-29T09:08:00.004+01:00

(information soon)

Parking

2008-06-29T09:08:00.003+01:00

(information soon)

Duty Free

2008-06-29T09:07:00.001+01:00

(information soon)

Travelling with children

2008-06-29T09:06:00.006+01:00

(information soon)

Luggage & Baggage

2008-06-29T09:06:00.004+01:00

(information soon)

Book a Hotel

2008-06-29T09:06:00.003+01:00

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Accessibility information

2008-06-29T09:05:00.001+01:00

(information soon)

Food and Drink - Restaurant and Bars

2008-06-29T09:04:00.003+01:00

(information soon)

Disabled Accessibilty and Facilities

2008-06-29T09:04:00.002+01:00

(information soon)