Open Skies Treaty Brings More Changes To Heathrow Than Just Added Flights

About 50, of the more than 90 different airlines that now operate at Heathrow will change terminals over the next year. So if you're flying to, from, or through, Heathrow you'll want to stay up to date about where your flight will actually be arriving or departing. And not only will the current tenants be moving around, some of British Airways' and all of American Airlines' flights will move from Gatwick to Heathrow, adding further to the confusion.

The terminals will be organized based, to some degree, on airline alliances... eventually. Many of the airlines operating at Heathrow belong to one of the three major global alliances: Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam. This should allow alliance members to offer smoother connections for customers while reducing costs by sharing facilities.

Star Alliance airlines include: bmi, Lufthansa, Singapore, United Airlines and US Airways. They'll move to Terminal 1 (T1). Oneworld members: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, along with non-members: Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways flights that haven't yet moved to T5, will operate from Terminal 3 (T3). Terminal 4 (T4) will serve SkyTeam members including: Air France, KLM, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Northwest Airlines, along with a variety of non-alliance carriers.

But when over the next 10 to 12 months will it all happen? Well the plan will be ongoing, and expectedly, quite complex. So we are once again advising that you double-check your departure and arrival terminals very carefully before travel. You might even want to check while you're away, there's no assurance that the terminal you left from is the one you'll be returning to.

And it won't end after just one year. Terminal 2 (T2) will be completely torn down later this year. It will be replaced with a new terminal (Heathrow East) that will then house the Star Alliance (moving from T1). Heathrow East is supposed to be ready in time for the 2012 London Olympics. But then, Terminal 1 (T1) will be demolished to make room for additional expansion.

Terminal 3 (T3) is currently undergoing a $2 billion improvement program to bring it up to the standards of T5, and T4's check-in facilities and departure areas are being upgraded with completion scheduled for some time in 2009.

So, be prepared for some dust and dirt, and the sounds of construction. Stay connected, stay informed, and pay closer attention to the flight attendants when they are making those arrival announcements.

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