The final phase of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 has been completed with the opening of a second satellite building, known as T5 C.
The £340 million development comes more than three years after the main building was first opened. Terminal 5 is dedicated to British Airways and the new pier, which is connected to the existing main terminal and T5 B by an underground rail link, means another three million passengers a year can be handled.
The new satellite has 12 boarding gates, eight of which are triple bridges designed for the double deck Airbus A380. BA is bringing 12 of these aircraft into its fleet from early 2013. There are also shops, including the only Starbucks with an alcohol licence in the UK, but, unlike T5 B, no Club World lounge.
A BA spokesman said there was currently no need for a third premium lounge on the new pier.
“There is space for it set aside because we might need a lounge in there at some stage,” he said.
Travelling to T5 C from the main terminal on the underground railway link will take just over a minute. Passengers transferring to other BA or oneworld flights from Terminal 3 will have their bags taken through a new luggage transfer tunnel which is due to open in 2012.