Heathrow Terminal 2 opened finally to the public on the 4th June 2014. United Airlines is the only airline that goes through the terminal, so far, but eventually, most Star Alliance airlines will move to Terminal 2. Terminal 1 will later be demolished to be replaced by the second half of Terminal 2. This is part of the 'toast rack' principle by putting terminal buildings and satellites perpendicular to the runways.
The old terminal was demolished in 2010:
Heathrow Terminal 2 in 2007 by Thomas Nugent, from geograph.org.uk. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
This terminal was small and inadequate for its services, with the check-in notably having a very low ceiling height. It had been called Heathrow East in planning, but eventually ended up as Heathrow Terminal 2, consuming the Queen's Building (which is behind/left of the camera) as well. It closed on the 23rd November 2009, with Air France Flight 1881 the last flight to leave the old Terminal 2.
The first flight to arrive at the new Terminal 2 was United Airlines Flight 958 at 0543.
So, it was my turn to try the new Terminal 2, on opening day!
I have to start with this though...
London United TA281 on Route 111, Heathrow Central Bus Station!
To circumnavigate the problems Terminal 5 had, Terminal 2 for the first two weeks had United Airlines to help the terminal settle in. Then, starting with Air Canada, Air Canada and All Nippon Airways, eventually it'll be the hub of Star Alliance.
The Queen's Terminal - homage to the Queen's Building previously on it?
It is a fairly grand half-terminal which looks a lot like a ghost town when I went there, mainly as the last flight was near leaving, and the next arrival was not for some time. It reminded me of smaller airports in the USA, like Corpus Christi Int Airport, TX, which has a few flights, but is deserted at other times where there are no flights.
A positive feature of the Terminal is that it has good views of the airfield, including this Philippine Airlines Boeing 777 at Terminal 4.
This is the sculpture designed by Richard Wilson, called 'Slipstream'. It has been designed to resemble a stunt aircraft in flight, and has been described as the longest permanent sculpture in Europe. Well placed to welcome guests to London, and the plane itself can be barely seen on the left of the shot.
Inside Terminal 2. From here, there is a view of the roof line through the whole terminal building, from customs and check in, through to the departure lounge and the gates, eventually! It will eventually handle the same amount as Terminal 5, once the second half of Terminal 2 (former Terminal 1) is built.
Also like Terminal 5, Terminal 2 has a dreary under car park bus station!
National Express Hotel Hoppa 8330 on Route H9, Heathrow Terminal 2
Similar to Terminal 5...
Menzies S17 on Flight Switch T2-T4, Heathrow Terminal 2
Interesting service, unless Heathrow Express had messed up?
Tellings Golden-Miller KX59CZM on Business Parking Service, Heathrow Terminal 2
Obviously, some displays weren't ready for Terminal 2, like this one!
But this one definitely was!
After five years, the sign makes sense again, there are three terminals that are served by this station! Sooner or later, when Terminal 1 shuts for good, should it be renamed back to Heathrow Central? It's logical?
So it's back underground, though the lower plaza where there are offices and down back to the long-closed subway!
The terminal should hold good for the foreseeable future, and sooner or later, under "Toast Rack", Terminal 3 would be replaced by Terminal 2 circling around the Central area. If that does happen, we may end up with geographical positions as the terminal designators instead. Hopefully, the terminal falls into its operational rhythm soon.
The building is more efficient, producing 40% less CO2 than the predecessor, by insulation, LED lighting and natural lighting (not seen in the bus station, clearly!). Solar panels and the T2 Energy Centre (burning biomass from local renewable resources) will help too. Part of Terminal 2 has been in use for some time, as Terminal 2B had been in use by Terminal 1, with its connecting corridor to it.
The old terminal was demolished in 2010:
Heathrow Terminal 2 in 2007 by Thomas Nugent, from geograph.org.uk. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
This terminal was small and inadequate for its services, with the check-in notably having a very low ceiling height. It had been called Heathrow East in planning, but eventually ended up as Heathrow Terminal 2, consuming the Queen's Building (which is behind/left of the camera) as well. It closed on the 23rd November 2009, with Air France Flight 1881 the last flight to leave the old Terminal 2.
The first flight to arrive at the new Terminal 2 was United Airlines Flight 958 at 0543.
So, it was my turn to try the new Terminal 2, on opening day!
I have to start with this though...
London United TA281 on Route 111, Heathrow Central Bus Station!
To circumnavigate the problems Terminal 5 had, Terminal 2 for the first two weeks had United Airlines to help the terminal settle in. Then, starting with Air Canada, Air Canada and All Nippon Airways, eventually it'll be the hub of Star Alliance.
The Queen's Terminal - homage to the Queen's Building previously on it?
It is a fairly grand half-terminal which looks a lot like a ghost town when I went there, mainly as the last flight was near leaving, and the next arrival was not for some time. It reminded me of smaller airports in the USA, like Corpus Christi Int Airport, TX, which has a few flights, but is deserted at other times where there are no flights.
A positive feature of the Terminal is that it has good views of the airfield, including this Philippine Airlines Boeing 777 at Terminal 4.
This is the sculpture designed by Richard Wilson, called 'Slipstream'. It has been designed to resemble a stunt aircraft in flight, and has been described as the longest permanent sculpture in Europe. Well placed to welcome guests to London, and the plane itself can be barely seen on the left of the shot.
Inside Terminal 2. From here, there is a view of the roof line through the whole terminal building, from customs and check in, through to the departure lounge and the gates, eventually! It will eventually handle the same amount as Terminal 5, once the second half of Terminal 2 (former Terminal 1) is built.
Also like Terminal 5, Terminal 2 has a dreary under car park bus station!
National Express Hotel Hoppa 8330 on Route H9, Heathrow Terminal 2
Similar to Terminal 5...
Menzies S17 on Flight Switch T2-T4, Heathrow Terminal 2
Interesting service, unless Heathrow Express had messed up?
Tellings Golden-Miller KX59CZM on Business Parking Service, Heathrow Terminal 2
Obviously, some displays weren't ready for Terminal 2, like this one!
But this one definitely was!
After five years, the sign makes sense again, there are three terminals that are served by this station! Sooner or later, when Terminal 1 shuts for good, should it be renamed back to Heathrow Central? It's logical?
So it's back underground, though the lower plaza where there are offices and down back to the long-closed subway!
The terminal should hold good for the foreseeable future, and sooner or later, under "Toast Rack", Terminal 3 would be replaced by Terminal 2 circling around the Central area. If that does happen, we may end up with geographical positions as the terminal designators instead. Hopefully, the terminal falls into its operational rhythm soon.
The building is more efficient, producing 40% less CO2 than the predecessor, by insulation, LED lighting and natural lighting (not seen in the bus station, clearly!). Solar panels and the T2 Energy Centre (burning biomass from local renewable resources) will help too. Part of Terminal 2 has been in use for some time, as Terminal 2B had been in use by Terminal 1, with its connecting corridor to it.
Reason why there is a T2-4 shuttle is cos the class 360 used for the shuttle was involved in a derailment
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