T5 for VS

Do you think that VS will put some flights into Terminal 5 at Heathrow? Do you think that T3 will be big enough for Virgin with route expansions and the A380 in the next few years. I know that there is a new gate complex at T3, you know the round building which is quite a fair bit of a walk! SQ goes from T3, and they will also have the A380. Is Terminal 3 big enough for the A380, or is T5 the only terminal at Heathrow which is capable of handling the A380?

I'm sure I heard a rumour that VS has secured a place for T5. anyone else know different?

[mitchja]

Work has already started on T3 to make it compatable with the A380. Not sure what will happen as VS expands though as T3 is already extreamly busy.

Regards

T3 is very busy, and, whilst Virgin has loads of Check-in desks, I think that they could struggle, as I they want to expand a lot over the next few years. I think that as they expand, they will ahve trouble getting gates ect especially if a flight is delayed. Also, T3 is v.busy now, but what about the 500-odd pax extra from the A380, aswell as the A380 of SQ! (Or maybe SQ will not operate the a380 from LHR)

[Nottingham Nick]

I am sure Finningly could take the A380 without a problem.:D:D

http://www.doncasterfinningleyairport.co.uk/index2.htm

There is some thought that One World airlines will move into T5, which would mean AA moving there with QF and BA, freeing up some space in T3 which would effectively become *Alliance plus VS.

BC

T5 is giving all the alliances (esp. Oneworld and Star) a great opportunity to rationalise terminal use - although it involves a lot of work re-defining the stands etc.

According to a source at BAA, T5 will be 'reserved' for Oneworld, and Star will all relocate to Terminal 1! If you think of the space that will be left after AA, Cathay, Singapore, SAS, United, Air Canada etc have relocated there will be plenty of space at T3, which as said is having stands built for the A380. My thought now is that T1 will be too small - especially as it now mainly serves narrow body aircraft. It's a constantly changing process and the only 'definite' plans to date are that BA and Oneworld will use T5.

That makes sense, as AA, United and Air Canada do make quite alot of space of Terminal 3, alond as Singapore. If they all relocate to either T1 and T5 depending on what Alliance they are, it will certainly leave Virgin with a lot of space. BTW, Isn't Singapore a member of the Star Alliance, which will mean that they will put into T1 (if this is true) and if they operate the A380, or even the 747, it will, as you said, make T1 too small. Especially with AA and United's 777s and both Singapore and Uniteds 747 AND (!)all the bmi flights, they may be only A320s or A321s (or even the tiny regional things)but considering the amount of bmi flights each day T1 may be too small, like you said.

Given BA have just moved a whole load of long-hauls into T1 I wonder if this a minitautre proof of concecpt for T1 taking the larger jets apart from the historical odd few El-Al and South Africa flights.

Didn't I read in the paper a couple of weeks ago that BAA had approved the GBP 100 million+ to upgrade T3 for the A380?

Yes - new stands are being constructed at both T5 and T3 for the A380, however, they are also taking the opportunity to move airlines around. As Russkirk said, BA moving some of their flights to T1 may allow the planners and ground crew to practice where to but the big birds!


Personally I'd like to know what's being planned for T4!

Some of the new gates at T3 ( I think 36 - 42) are already big enough to handle the A380!!!

T4 will have one stand ready for when Qantas A380 arrives, but the main terminal 5 will have enough stands to accomodate it!!