London Heathrow airport handled 64 million passengers and 460,000 aircraft movements last year, and the new Terminal Five (T5) will provide an additional throughput capability for 30 million passengers when it is fully developed. Taking environmental considerations into account, however, the UK Government has promised an airport capacity cap of 90 million passengers and 480,000 aircraft movements annually.
When it opens in 2007 or 2008, the terminal will have only one of its planned two satellite buildings, with around 30 stands and a passenger processing capacity of 20 million a year. When both satellites are operational they will add 60 stands to Heathrow's capacity, and T5 will process 30 million passengers annually. Heathrow owner BAA says about one third of the stands will be able to handle double-deck Airbus A380s.
Surface transport provision will consist of a two-lane dual carriageway spur connecting directly to the nearby M25 motorway - which itself is to be widened from four to six lanes. Both the Heathrow to London rail links (surface and underground) to T5 must be operating before it is allowed to open. BAA wanted 13,000 additional car parking places for T5, but Heathrow as a whole has been capped at 46,000 spaces which is only 4,000 up on existing capacity. The government and BAA say there are no plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Source: Flight International