Heathrow’s Terminal 5 has become one of the world’s largest construction sites. With just over a year till completion everything is beginning to take shape.

It’s the size that really shows what Terminal 5 will be capable of, 260 hectares which would be enough for around 50 soccer pitches and the ability to cater for around 30 million passengers a year. 18km of conveyor belt should be enough to loose plenty of baggage as well.

Everything has been designed for speed and efficiency. There will be several hundred check in desks. Automatic check in desks will allow passengers to move as quickly as possible from arrival to their gate.

Given the chaos that can ensue within the existing four terminals at Heathrow the extra space should be welcome for passengers held up, delayed and cancelled.

As with all airports these days the shopping complexes will be expansive as well as expensive. Harrods will have a store and Gordon Ramsey will be opening a restaurant.

Planning for the new Terminal 5 began in 1985, a year before Terminal 4 opened, although plans and permissions were not finalised until 2001 with work commencing in 2002.

The building itself has been designed to create space with as much natural lighting as possible. After check-in and two sets of security passengers will reach airside conditions featuring full glass walls, plenty of gate seating and

The London Underground’s Piccadilly Line has been extended to Terminal 5 and the Heathrow Express also has its own station.

With one year to go till the first real passengers arrive from Hong Kong Heathrow will be looking for 16,000 volunteers to make tests within the complex. Several months of testing will ensure a smooth operation after the official opening.  

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