Virgin Atlantic to expand facilities at Heathrow's Terminal 3

Virgin Atlantic Airways is to renew and expand its facilities at Heathrow’s Terminal 3. The new works will be designed by Foster and Partners and will be completed in phases between 2007 – 2012. The expansion will enable Virgin Atlantic to significantly increase the number of passengers it handles at Heathrow from 3 million to 5.5 million per year.

The project will provide both speed and intimacy for Virgin Atlantic’s passengers as they check in, move through security, relax in the lounge, get called to the gate and board the aircraft. The first phase of work will be complete before Terminal 5 opens and will be ready for the arrival of Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A380’s in 2008.

There are both London Underground and Heathrow Express stations at Terminal 3 and Upper Class passengers will be welcomed at a new dedicated Drive Thru area. The new Virgin Atlantic facilities will be so compact that passengers will only have to walk as little as 200 metres from check in to the gate.

Speaking at Heathrow Airport before Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight to Mumbai, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, welcomed the agreement, “We’re delighted to have secured this innovative deal with the BAA which will allow us to double in size at Heathrow yet create a more intimate experience for our passengers. Our passengers tell us that in their ‘cash rich, time poor’ lives they are increasingly frustrated at the time spent queuing at the airport, so we’ve made sure this work will cut down the time it takes passengers from arrival to the gate. In fact, whether you arrive at Heathrow from London by road or public transport you will get to the airport quicker and get through the airport quicker at Terminal 3 than Terminal 5.”

Mick Temple, BAA Heathrow Managing Director, said, “We are delighted to be signing this MOU. It has been reached through constructive dialogue which has been driven by the desire to jointly develop creative solutions. It has been a real team effort and the outcome is a commitment to re-develop part of Terminal 3 for Virgin and provide a great alternative to Terminal 5.

“The redevelopment also compliments our long term plans for the rest of Terminal 3 and will deliver an enhanced passenger experience for all terminal users.”

The new work will complement the £100m works already started by BAA around Pier 6 at Terminal 3 to accommodate the new Airbus A380’s.

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