TAP at Heathrow Terminal 1 from November

Within the context of the Star Alliance project “Move under one Roof”, TAP should begin operating as of November from Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport in London. Implementation of this project which aims to offer alliance passengers greater ease and more commodity through the use of common spaces at leading airports will take place in a series of phases. The first begins in April and conclusion is scheduled for 2012.

“Of all the projects that are part of our ‘Move under one Roof’ project, Heathrow is without a doubt the greatest challenge. In truth we would like to already be able to offer our customers a modern, new facility at Heathrow.

"However as we shall have to continue using the existing structure, we will only be able to get close to our true goal with the collaboration of BAA Airports and all our member companies. The end result will always be to offer passengers a new experience that will set out new standards of reference for this industry", said Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance.

The first phase of the project consists of a major overhaul of the current Terminal 1. Demolition work on the existing check-in desks is already underway and a new check-in space is to be created that will enable Air New Zealand and United to transfer from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 on June 10 2008.

“With the predicted drop in the current number of passengers at Terminal 1 from the current 23 million to around 15 million in 2009 this space will be less overloaded than in the past. In addition to this, we are developing a number of initiatives to improve the traveling experience of our passengers," explained Jaan Albrecht.

Bmi, South African Airways and United* in future will offer a passenger lounge in the arrivals area specially designed for Star Alliance customers landing at Heathrow. The 330 square meters of this space will be located outside the customs’ area with direct elevator access from the arrivals’ area.

In June 2008, Star Alliance will open up the largest passenger lounge of its entire network at Terminal 1 within the departures’ area. This facility with 1650 square meters in area is reserved for First Class, Business Class and Star Alliance Gold Card members traveling on any member company from Terminal 1.

The second phase of these alterations is set for the end of 2008 coinciding with the closure of Terminal 2. All Star Alliance members currently operating at Terminal 2 – Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, TAP Portugal and the regional company Croatia Airlines – will make the transfer to Terminal 1 during the months of October and November. During the same period Bmi will use a new remodeled check-in area.

All other member companies serving Heathrow - Air Canada, Air China, ANA, Blue1, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, THAI and Turkish Airlines# - should continue operating from Terminal 3 until 2012.

In total 17 Star Alliance member companies currently serve Heathrow offering 184 daily flights to 83 destinations in 44 countries. From April, a total of 20 companies will operate out of Heathrow: With the entry of Turkish Airlines and Blue1 which begins flights from this airport to Helsinki, plus US Airways which begins flights between Heathrow and Philadelphia, the number of daily flights will thus increase to 192 serving 88 destinations in 45 countries.