View source for Heathrow Terminal 2

{{Short description|Airport terminal at London Heathrow Airport}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Heathrow Terminal 2 <br />''The Queen's Terminal''
| alternate_names     = London Heathrow Terminal 2, Heathrow East Terminal (formerly), Heathrow T2
| image               = File:Departure hall entrance, London Heathrow Terminal 2, UK - 20150621.jpg
| caption             = Entrance to the terminal
| map_type            = United Kingdom Greater London
| building_type       = [[Airport terminal]]
| architectural_style =
| structural_system   = [[Steel frame]]
| cost                = £2.3&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Andrew |date=17 February 2012 |title=Milestone for Heathrow Terminal 2 revamp |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7af0a4d8-58cc-11e1-b9c6-00144feabdc0.html |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref>
| address             = 
| client              = [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]]
| owner               =
| current_tenants     = 
| landlord            = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|51.47029|-0.45205|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| start_date          = July 2010 (current terminal)<ref>[http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/rebuilding-heathrow/heathrow's-new-terminal-2/timeline Heathrow's new terminal 2: timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314175412/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/rebuilding-heathrow/heathrow%27s-new-terminal-2/timeline |date=14 March 2013 }}. Retrieved 8 April 2013.</ref>
| completion_date     = June 2014 (current terminal)
| inauguration_date   = 23 June 2014 (current terminal)
| opened_date         = 4 June 2014 (current terminal)
| renovation_date     =
| demolition_date     = 
| destruction_date    =
| height              =
| diameter            =
| floor_count         =
| floor_area          = 
| main_contractor     = HETCo (a joint venture between [[Ferrovial|Ferrovial Agroman]] and [[Laing O'Rourke]] and [[Balfour Beatty]]).<ref name=faqs>[http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/rebuilding-heathrow/heathrow's-new-terminal-2/faqs Heathrow's new terminal 2: Frequently asked questions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223051239/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/rebuilding-heathrow/heathrow%27s-new-terminal-2/faqs |date=23 February 2013 }}. Retrieved 8 April 2013.</ref>
| architect           = [[Luis Vidal (architect)|Luis Vidal]], [[Foster + Partners]]
| architecture_firm   = [[Luis Vidal (architect)|Luis Vidal + Architects]]
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer   = 
| civil_engineer      = 
| other_designers     = [[Pascall+Watson]], [[Foster and Partners]] and [[Grimshaw Architects]]
| awards              =
| references          = 
| public_transit   = {{Unbulleted list 
   | {{rail-interchange|london|elizabeth}} {{rint|london|heathrowexpress}} [[Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 railway station]]
   | {{rail-interchange|london|Piccadilly}} [[Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 tube station]]
   | {{bus icon|10px}} [[Heathrow Central bus station]]
   }}
}}

'''Heathrow Terminal 2''', also known as '''The Queen's Terminal''', is an [[airport terminal]] at [[Heathrow Airport]], the main airport serving [[London]], United Kingdom. The new development was originally named Heathrow East Terminal, and occupies the sites where the previous Terminal 2 and the [[Queens Building, Heathrow|Queens Building]] stood. It was designed by [[Luis Vidal (architect)|Luis Vidal + Architects]] and opened on 4 June 2014. The original Terminal 2 opened in 1955 as the Europa Building and was the airport's oldest terminal.

[[Heathrow Terminal 1|Terminal 1]] closed to passengers on 30 June 2015,<ref>{{cite news|title=London Heathrow Airport bids farewell to Terminal 1|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33309025|access-date=8 June 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=29 January 2015}}</ref> although as Terminal 1's baggage system is used by Terminal 2, part of it will remain operational.<ref>{{cite web|title=Appendix A: Terminal 2 Programme|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/file_source/HeathrowAboutUs/Downloads/PDF/SCBP-2013/SCBP2013_appendix-A.pdf|publisher=Heathrow Airport Holdings|access-date=24 May 2015|page=3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524214537/http://www.heathrowairport.com/file_source/HeathrowAboutUs/Downloads/PDF/SCBP-2013/SCBP2013_appendix-A.pdf|archive-date=24 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Terminal 1 is due to be demolished, allowing for Terminal 2 to be extended at an as yet undisclosed date.<ref>{{cite news|title=Heathrow Terminal One deserted ahead of closure next month|url=http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-05-28/heathrow-terminal-one-deserted-ahead-of-closure-next-month/|access-date=1 July 2015|work=ITV News|date=28 May 2015}}</ref> In 2015, Terminal 2 handled 16.7&nbsp;million passengers on 116,861 flights and 22.5% of the airport's passengers on 25.2% of its flights with an average of 130 passengers per flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrow.com/company/company-news-and-information/company-information/facts-and-figures|title=Heathrow facts and figures |publisher=Heathrow Airport |access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>

==History==
===Original terminal===
[[File:London Heathrow Airport, 1972 geograph-3212261-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|Former Terminal 2 building in 1972]]
[[File:Heathrow Terminal 2 - geograph.org.uk - 581461.jpg|thumb|Former Terminal 2 building in 2007]]
The first building to be known as Terminal 2 was Heathrow's oldest terminal.  It was designed by [[Frederick Gibberd]] and opened as the Europa Building in 1955.  He also designed the adjacent [[Queens Building, Heathrow|Queens Building]].

The old Terminal 2 had an area of {{convert|49654|m2|sqft}} and in its lifetime saw 316&nbsp;million passengers pass through its doors. Originally designed to handle around 1.2&nbsp;million passengers annually, in its final years of operation it often accommodated around 8&nbsp;million.

On 20 April 1984, [[1984 London Heathrow Airport bombing|a bomb exploded in the baggage area of T2]], injuring 22 people including 1 seriously.

Despite the efforts of maintenance staff and various renovations and upgrades over the years, the building became increasingly decrepit and unserviceable. It was closed on 23 November 2009;<ref name="Ref_x">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8373630.stm Last call for Heathrow Terminal 2], BBC News. 23 November 2009.</ref> [[Air France]] flight AF1881 to Paris was the last flight to depart from the terminal. The building was demolished in 2010,<ref name="Ref_2010">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8650872.stm |title=Demolition work begins at Heathrow's Terminal 2 |publisher=BBC News |date=29 April 2010 |access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> and the resulting space was combined with the adjacent area where the Queen's Building stood until its demolition in 2009 to form the site for the new terminal.

===New terminal===
Approval for the new terminal, originally named Heathrow East, was granted by the then-[[Mayor of London]] [[Ken Livingstone]] and [[Hillingdon Council]] in May 2007.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 May 2007 |title=Green light for Heathrow terminal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6710409.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref>

====Design====
[[File:Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, London, England - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Terminal 2 departures area]]
The new terminal's design continues the "toast rack" principle employed in the construction of Terminal 5, a layout that maximises use of the airport's land by placing the terminal building and its satellites perpendicular to the runways.<ref name="CIP2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.baa.com/assets/Internet/BAA%20Airports/Downloads/Static%20files/Heathrow_CIP_2010.pdf|title=Capital Investment Plan 2010|publisher=BAA Ltd. |date=May 2010 |access-date=28 December 2010|archive-date=28 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928140638/http://www.baa.com/assets/Internet/BAA%20Airports/Downloads/Static%20files/Heathrow_CIP_2010.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Like Terminal 5, much of the building was constructed off-site, helping to overcome many of the logistical constraints of building in one of the world's busiest international airports.

The terminal is split into two connected buildings, Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B. 2A was designed by Luis Vidal + Architects (LVA) and built by a joint venture between [[Ferrovial]] and [[Laing O'Rourke]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=michaellane |date=2010-03-15 |title=Laing O'Rourke/Ferrovial sign £800m Terminal 2 deal |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/contracts/laing-orourke-ferrovial-sign-800m-terminal-2-deal-15-03-2010/ |website=Construction News |language=en}}</ref> All European carriers except [[Icelandair]] use terminal 2A to board and disembark passengers. [[Air Canada]]  and [[Turkish Airlines]]  also use this building for their short haul flights.  2B was designed by [[Grimshaw Architects]], and built by [[Balfour Beatty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Future proof Heathrow Terminal 2B saw first aircraft dock this month |url=http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/jun-2014/future-proof-heathrow-terminal-2b-saw-first-aircraft-dock-month |date=30 June 2014 |first1=Jackie |last1=Whitelaw |website=Infrastructure Intelligence |language=en}}</ref> All international carriers use terminal 2B. [[Icelandair]] is the only European carrier to use Terminal 2B.

The gates in the new T2 are numbered in concourse A (gates 1–26) and concourse B (gates 28–49).

The new Terminal 2 is designed to produce 40% fewer [[carbon dioxide]] emissions than the buildings it has replaced.<ref name="Heathrow Official Airport Website">{{cite news|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/community-and-environment/sustainability/case-studies/energy-efficiency-at-the-new-terminal-2|publisher=Heathrow Official Airport Website|date=1 November 2012|title=Energy efficiency at the new terminal 2|access-date=1 November 2012|archive-date=5 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905222841/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/community-and-environment/sustainability/case-studies/energy-efficiency-at-the-new-terminal-2|url-status=dead}}</ref> 20% of this target will be achieved through [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] design technology elements, such as high levels of insulation, a comprehensive colour changing [[LED lighting]] installation designed by StudioFractal and extensive natural lighting. Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the building with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting, without generating excess heat. [[Photovoltaic]] (solar) panels on the roof will further reduce dependency on energy supplies. The remaining 20% carbon reduction will be due to the new [[T2 Energy Centre]], via [[biomass]] [[Cogeneration|CHP]] fuelled by [[woodchips]] from local [[renewable resources]], will provide heating and cooling to both Heathrow Terminal 2 and [[Heathrow Terminal 5]].<ref name="Heathrow Official Airport Website"/>

====Construction====
[[File:Heathrow Terminal 2 under construction 2012.jpg|thumb|left|The new Terminal 2 building under construction, January 2012]]
Construction of the terminal is spread across two phases. The first phase, started in 2009 and completed in June 2014, has involved the demolition of the old terminal and construction of half of the main terminal building, and the completion of the {{convert|522|m|ft|adj = on}} satellite building Terminal 2B. The second phase is due to begin after the demolition of Terminal 1 and will involve the construction of the second half of Terminal 2 in its place. It had originally been expected that the second phase would be completed around 2019, but in February 2013 Heathrow Airport Ltd. confirmed the project would not be expected to be complete until the next decade.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gardiner|first=Joey|url=http://www.building.co.uk/news/sectors/infrastructure/delayed-heathrow-terminal-2-project-could-be-worth-%C2%A35bn/5050204.article|title=Delayed Heathrow Terminal 2 project could be worth £5bn &#124; Magazine News|publisher=Building|date=15 February 2013|access-date=12 July 2013}}</ref> Once complete the terminal will have a footprint and operational capacity very similar to that of Terminal 5.

Phase 1 was once expected to be completed in 2012, in time for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] but, as construction started much later than proposed it only opened in June 2014.<ref name="Ref_2009a"/>

By January 2013, Terminal 2A had been declared weather-tight and the internal fit-out of the building was well under way. In spring 2013 systems installation commenced.  The first phase of Terminal 2B was completed in November 2009 and its six gates became operational in early 2010. Until Terminal 2 was completed, passengers accessed the first part of Terminal 2B via a temporary "bridge" from Terminal 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010/08/11/balfour-wins-460m-heathrow-t2-extension/|title=Balfour wins £460m Heathrow T2 extension|publisher=Construction Enquirer|date=11 August 2010|access-date=22 August 2011}}</ref>

Demolition of the original airport control tower which formed part of the Central Terminal Area of the airport began in January 2013 and was completed in autumn 2013, to make way for connecting roads that have been built to link with the new Terminal 2. Air traffic control operations had moved to a new control tower in 2007 but part of the building remained in use as office space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.com/Press-releases/Old-control-tower-demolition-410.aspx|title=Old control tower demolition|date=9 January 2013|publisher=Heathrow Airport|access-date=27 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117174240/http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.com/Press-releases/Old-control-tower-demolition-410.aspx|archive-date=17 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In June 2013 it was announced that the terminal would be known as "Terminal 2 – The Queen's Terminal".<ref>{{cite news|date=14 June 2013|title=Heathrow Terminal 2 named Queen's Terminal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22899336|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> The terminal features a sculpture designed by [[Richard Wilson (sculptor)|Richard Wilson]], called ''[[Slipstream (sculpture)|Slipstream]]''. It has been designed to resemble a stunt aircraft in flight, and has been described as the longest permanent sculpture in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|date=25 April 2013|title=Heathrow terminal sculpture unveiled in Hull|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-22299159|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> A second sculpture, named ''Emergence'', was created by [[Cinimod Studio]] and is suspended within the terminal.

====Opening====
[[File:Slipstream (2014) by Richard Wilson, London Heathrow Terminal 2, UK - 20140604.jpg|thumb|''[[Slipstream (sculpture)|Slipstream]]'' has been described as the longest permanent sculpture in Europe]]
The first flight to arrive at the terminal was [[United Airlines]] flight UA958 from [[Chicago O'Hare]], landing at 5:49&nbsp;am local time on 4 June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-27691651|title=Heathrow airport's new Terminal 2 opens to passengers|publisher=BBC News|date=4 June 2014|access-date=13 June 2014}}</ref> [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] officially opened the terminal on 23 June 2014 after [[Air Canada]], [[Air China]], and [[All Nippon Airways]] moved in on 18 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Queens opens Heathrow Terminal 2|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27988691|access-date=8 June 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=23 June 2014}}</ref>

After a period of phased moves,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/flight-information/airline-moves|title=Heathrow: Airline moves|publisher=Heathrow Airport Holdings|access-date=4 June 2014|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705103545/http://www.heathrowairport.com/flight-information/airline-moves|url-status=dead}}</ref> the terminal has become home to [[Star Alliance]], as part of Heathrow Airport's plan to maximise the efficiency of the airport by reducing transfer times and improving the passenger experience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/improving-heathrow/heathrow's-new-terminal-2 |title=Terminal 2 The Queen's Terminal |year=2014 |publisher=Heathrow Airport Holdings |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816204850/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/improving-heathrow/heathrow%27s-new-terminal-2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new terminal will have capacity for 30 million passengers each year.<ref name="Ref_2009a">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8192795.stm|title=Heathrow Terminal revamp unveiled|publisher=BBC News|date=10 August 2009|access-date=28 November 2009}}</ref>

==Airlines==
Terminal 2 was the main base for [[Virgin Atlantic Little Red]] until it ceased operations in 2015. Today, most flights to/from Terminal 2 are short haul flights to mainland Europe. There are a few long haul flights from this terminal. Because of the area size of the terminal, it is the only terminal at [[Heathrow Airport]] to accommodate the [[ATR (aircraft manufacturer)|ATR]] turboprop, the [[Embraer E-Jet family]] and other smaller aircraft.

===Star Alliance===
Terminal 2 is the base for [[Star Alliance]] members that fly from Heathrow. All airlines transferred from other terminals by January 2017, with Air India shifting from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2 on 25 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airindia.in/ |title=Home |website=airindia.in}}</ref> There is no common Star Alliance lounge in the terminal; Lufthansa has a lounge in the main terminal, while Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines each have lounges in the satellite.

In the main terminal there are also an Aer Lingus lounge and a Plaza Premium pay-as-you-go lounge.

===SkyTeam===
No SkyTeam carriers currently operate from this terminal.

Between 3 May 2020 and 15 July 2021, all SkyTeam members used Terminal 2 due to the closure of Terminal 4. However, on 15 July 2021, [[Delta Air Lines]] moved back to Terminal 3 as the first operators at Terminal 3 along with Virgin Atlantic. In August 2021, SkyTeam members [[Air France]], [[Kenya Airways]], [[KLM]], [[Korean Air]] and [[Middle East Airlines]] joined Delta at Terminal 3 while [[Aeroflot]], China Airlines, [[China Eastern Airlines]], [[ITA Airways]], [[Saudia]], [[TAROM]] and [[Vietnam Airlines]] stayed at Terminal 2. Beginning 14 June 2022, ITA Airways, Saudia, TAROM and Vietnam Airlines moved back to Terminal 4 on different days. China Eastern Airlines remained at Terminal 2 with China Airlines until it moved back to Terminal 4 on 1 November 2022.

===Non-alliance===
6 non-aligned airlines also operate from this terminal: [[Aer Lingus]], [[Eurowings]], [[Icelandair]], [[JetBlue]], [[Loganair]], and  [[Sky Express (Greece)|Sky Express]]. Eurowings is a Lufthansa subsidiary that has replaced Lufthansa on flights to German destinations other than to Frankfurt and Munich. On 12 August 2021, Jetblue began service from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] on [[Airbus A321|Airbus A321 LR]] aircraft. This is their first attempt of transatlantic services. Sky Express will be moving to [[Gatwick Airport]] on 31 March 2023. 

Terminal 2 is set up to handle not only international flights, but also UK domestic and Irish flights, which is like Terminal 5 and unlike Terminals 3 and 4. [[Aer Lingus]] and [[Loganair]] serve UK domestic and Irish flights from this terminal. 

Several other non-aligned airlines operated from this terminal until they stopped flying to Heathrow. [[Flybe (1979-2020)|Flybe]] flew to this terminal from 25 March 2017 until 5 March 2020 when the airline filed for administration. [[Flybe (2022–2023)|Flybe]] relaunched from this terminal until it entered administration again in 2023. [[Widerøe]] operated from this terminal until it moved its operations to [[Stansted Airport]] on 25 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/wideroe-to-operate-to-stansted-instead-of-heathrow-from-late-mar-2023-1182009 | title=News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry &#124; CAPA }}</ref>

===Airbus A380 and Boeing 747===
[[Singapore Airlines]] operate the [[Airbus A380]] from Terminal 2 in the summer of 2015 for two of Singapore Airlines' four daily flights.

[[Thai Airways International]] previously operated the [[Airbus A380]] on one of two daily flights until retiring all of their A380s in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 Pandemic]].

[[United Airlines]] previously has used a single daily [[Boeing 747-400]] on its San Francisco to Heathrow routes during the summer tourist season, but UA retired all of its 747s in November 2017. [[Thai Airways International]]  has also used one 747 on another daily flight to this terminal.

==Ground transport==
===Inter-terminal transport===
Terminal 2 is connected by an underground walkway to Terminal 3. Terminals 4 and 5 can be reached by the free [[Elizabeth line]] or [[Heathrow Express]] rail service. [[London Underground]] services can also be used to transfer to Terminals 4 and 5 (the former requiring a change of train at [[Hatton Cross tube station|Hatton Cross]]), but this service is only free to [[Oyster card]] holders and those paying via contactless.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals|title=Travel between terminals – Heathrow|access-date=14 May 2019|archive-date=13 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213002718/http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition, numerous buses ply between the Central Bus Station (for Terminals 2 and 3) and the other terminals. However, using the train service is much quicker and easier for passengers with luggage. In June 2021, free bus travel between terminals was ceased.<ref>https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/heathrow-free-travel-zone-2#:~:text=On%2016%20December%202020%2C%20Transport,with%20the%20contract%20notice%20period. {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

===Road links===
As part of the two central terminals at Heathrow, it is well linked to the [[M4 motorway]] via the M4 spur road and through a tunnel under the north runway.

===Rail links===
{{Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 & 3 rail services|origin=Terminal 2|sharedwith=[[Heathrow Terminal 3]]}}

===Bus links===
Terminal 2 is accessible to both bus and coach services from [[Heathrow Central bus station]].

There are also several coach services operated by [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] operating to other London airports such as [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]], [[Stansted Airport|Stansted]] and [[Luton Airport|Luton]]; and other cities in the United Kingdom.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Heathrow Terminal 2}}
*[http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/terminal-2 Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 <small>(official web page)</small>]

{{London Heathrow Airport}}

[[Category:Heathrow Airport|2 London Heathrow Terminal 2]]
[[Category:Heathrow Airport Holdings]]
[[Category:Airport terminals|London Heathrow Terminal 2]]
[[Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 2014]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures at Heathrow Airport|Terminal 2]]
[[Category:Foster and Partners buildings]]