BA Ready for Heathrow Opening

Trials of British Airways’ new systems and processes are continuing on time to meets the opening date of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on 28 March, 2008.

Announcing first half profits of £593m, BA, the new terminal’s sole occupant, says it is making good progress and expects T5 to open on time next spring.

A six-month trial is running as planned and the first major public trials will begin this weekend.

Over 16,000 people have been recruited to act as passengers to test every aspect of the building, including car-parking, check-in facilities, as well as security and IT systems, BA says.

Punctuality and baggage handling times would continue to pose a challenge, the airline conceded, until it moved completely to the new terminal as other facilities are “old and overstretched”.

Terminal 5, which cost BA and the British Airports Authority (BAA) £4.3bn to build and outfit, will receive £75m in technology.

BAA has invested another £175m on IT infrastructure, which has involved installing 180 IT suppliers and 163 IT systems.

Director of business critical systems and IT Nick Gaines says he views the role of IT in the new terminal as essential.

BAA has ensured that the technology used was appropriate for many years to come, while safeguarding "space to keep technology options open" at Europe's busiest hub.

By Adrian McBreen