Heathrow Airport

London, United Kingdom

  • Investment of

    £
    12
    B

    from 2006 to 2025

  • 210000
    m2

    T2 area

From 2006 to 2025, Ferrovial invested more than 12 billion pounds in projects designed to transform the passenger experience. The most relevant include the delivery of Terminal 5, the construction and opening of Terminal 2, and the construction of the world’s largest integrated baggage system.

Heathrow’s third runway

Approval to obtain permits to construct the third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport has arrived after years of debate and more than a decade of operating at 98% capacity.

In 2015, the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, concluded that Heathrow was the best airport to increase air capacity in the South East of England.

In October 2016, the British government approved the Davies Commission recommendation. The decision was further endorsed by the House of Commons, which voted by a large majority in favor of Heathrow’s expansion in June 2018.

On June 18th Heathrow launched the largest statutory consultation process to date. The conclusions and feedback from stakeholder and the community have been incorporated into the business plan. The next step in the process is the planning and submission of the DCO. We expect to submit a final proposal to the Secretary of State during 2020. Final Approval is expected to be obtained by the end of 2021.

The expanding Heathrow Airport will secure the United Kingdom’s position as a leader in the global aviation market. The expansion will generate 180,000 jobs and 187 million pounds in economic benefits.

T2, one of the largest construction projects in UK history, at the heart of Heathrow

Terminal 2, also known as The Queen’s Terminal, was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 2014.

The terminal was built by Ferrovial in consortium with Laing O’Rourke. With an area of ​​210,000 m² (equal to 25 soccer fields), it required an investment of €3 billion. Construction generated 5,000 direct jobs and 35,000 indirect jobs. This emblematic Terminal 2 posed a significant challenge for the airport management team, since it was carried out at the airport, between the two runways and their taxiways, while operating at maximum capacity.

Luis Vidal + Architects were the concept and lead architects for Heathrow’s Terminal 2 and collaborated with Pascall + Watson during the fit out phase. Foster + Partners were the Heathrow Airport master planners and the East terminal building concept architects during the initial project phase.

Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5

Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5, which opened in March 2008, was one of Europe’s largest and most complex construction projects, with a total investment of 4.3 billion pounds. Despite the size and complexity of the project, it was delivered on time and on budget. The terminal — designed by renowned architect Lord Richard Rogers — is home to British Airways.

Construction of the world’s largest integrated baggage system

Ferrovial, in partnership with BAA, completed the construction of the world’s largest integrated luggage system in 2010. This underground circuit — including a 1.8 km-long tunnel — connects Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 with the integrated baggage system building (T3IB).

The system has the capacity to simultaneously process up to 7,200 bags per hour and moves luggage at speeds of up to 700 meters per minute between terminals.

Since it came into operation, this new centralized baggage handling concept has yielded excellent results, reducing the number of lost and delayed luggage by 22%.