Heathrow Terminal 2: The Queens Terminal is now in operation after six years of construction and over 20 million working hours.
On Wednesday 4 June, London Heathrow Terminal 2 welcomed its first passengers, and became the latest element in the airport investment programme to open to the public.
The arrival of the first 178 passengers and 11 crew members arriving through gate 38B from Chicago signified the culmination of over 20 million hours and six years of planning and construction for the Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke joint venture company HETCo.
Ignacio Clopes, Ferrovial Agroman Area 2 Director (Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia) said the arrival of the first flight was a significant milestone for the company and the JV.
“Today, we are proud to say that we have been part of something special and have delivered a fitting gateway to 21st century UK,” said Mr Clopes. “Ferrovial Agroman is now a key player in one of the most competitive marketplaces, by successfully delivering complex projects such as Terminal 2 and Crossrail. “Our successful partnership with Laing O’Rourke started eight years ago and is continuing to expand. I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead for us not only in the British market but also beyond.“
Roger Robinson, CEO Europe, Laing O’Rourke, said:
“The delivery of Heathrow Terminal 2 has demonstrated to the world the enterprise, and engineering skills within our industry, and the strength of our partnership with Ferrovial Agroman. Just four years ago, we were demolishing the previous structures on this site. The stunning new international gateway that opened this week has been created through the hard work, passion, dedication and abilities of our teams, but also through innovative processes and technology. Digital engineering, off site manufacturing and dedicated logistics were at the heart of its design, and have enabled us to construct more efficiently, to plan and budget, but above all, safer, and show just how far the construction has advanced.”
On its first day of operation, nearly 6,000 passengers experienced the new facilities, representing just 10% of its planned flight volume.
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 in full operation, Terminal 2 will have an average footfall of 20 million passengers per year and will reduce the carbon footprint of the two buildings it has replaced by 40%.
Editor’s Note
HETCo:
HETCo is a Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke joint venture company established to complete the construction of the new Terminal 2A at Heathrow Airport. The works form part of the Heathrow £2.5 billion Terminal 2 replacement project. Awarded the £1 billion phase 1 contract in 2010 through competitive tender, HETCo’s scope of works included the demolition of the old Terminal 2 and Queen’s Building, and the construction of the new main terminal building (T2A), including aircraft stands and Cooling Station. HETCo was also responsible for managing 75 subcontractors and more than 200 suppliers, with a workforce exceeding 4,500 on a daily basis. The terminal’s unique design and sustainability features will also contribute to reducing the carbon footprint by 40% of the two buildings it has replaced.
Heathrow Airport:
As part of a £11bn airport development programme, Heathrow is replacing the old Terminal 2 (which stood for more than half a century before closing in 2009). The brand new building will reward flyers with an impressive new space, designed around the individual needs of the 21st century passenger. When it opens on 4th June 2014, the new Terminal 2 will serve 20m passengers a year. It will be home to STAR Alliance and Aer Lingus, germanwings as well as Virgin Atlantic’s domestic routes.
The new Terminal 2 has been designed with an aim to be as environmentally responsible as possible, with sustainability at the core of the programme. More than 95% of the buildings demolished to make way for the new terminal were recycled. In addition, the new Terminal 2 will be 40% more carbon-efficient than the previous building and extremely energy efficient; with biomass (wood chip) boilers, photovoltaic panels and a main cooling plant carefully chosen for its low global warming potential. Overall, Heathrow’s target is to recycle or compost 70% of airport waste by 2020.
Ferrovial Agroman:
Ferrovial is the world’s leading investor in transport infrastructure, with revenues of £7bn and more than 80,000 employees in 15 countries. Its construction division, Ferrovial Agroman, manages major, complex, multi-disciplinary design and construction projects in international markets, in sectors including rail, highways, tunnels, ports and marine, aviation and energy. In London, its flagship projects include the Crossrail C300/410 Western Running Tunnels and Station Caverns, Crossrail C435 Farringdon Station, Heathrow’s new Terminal T2A and the Heathrow Post T5 Transfer Baggage Tunnel.
Laing O’Rourke:
Laing O’Rourke is a globally diverse engineering enterprise with a commitment to delivering Excellence Plus performance, founded on 165 years of experience. We fund, design, manufacture, construct and maintain the built environment – providing the facilities to accommodate, educate, employ, transport, care for and sustain communities. Our business model comprises the full range of engineering, construction and specialist products and services. Through our fully integrated offer we are delivering single-source solutions across the client value chain for some of the world’s most prestigious public and private organisations.
