British Airways: many flights move to Heathrow Terminal 5 with just two weeks’ notice
Normally changes of terminal are made at the ‘seasonal boundaries’ in late October and late March
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.With just two weeks’ notice, British Airways is sharply reducing its presence at London Heathrow Terminal 3 and moving two-thirds of “T3” routes to its main home, Terminal 5.
From 12 July, all long-haul flights currently operating from T3 – to destinations including Barbados, Buenos Aires, Las Vegas and Orlando – will return to T5 . Many short-haul flights, in particular to central Europe and the former Yugoslavia, will also move.
News of the change was broken by the frequent flyer site Head for Points. The editor, Rob Burgess, said: “There is something a little odd about this. The changes are happening quickly – passengers will get just 14 days notice in some cases.”
Normally changes of terminal are made at the “seasonal boundaries” in late October and late March. The short notice may mean that some passengers with existing bookings will mistakenly turn up at Terminal 3.
Mr Burgess said: “It also makes little sense in terms of trying to manage queues and lounge capacity in Terminal 5.”
A spokesperson for British Airways said: “As part of a planned Heathrow terminal move with our airline partners, all our long-haul flights and more than half of our short-haul flights that currently operate out of Terminal 3 will be moving to Terminal 5 from 12 July.
“We’re proactively letting customers know and recommend they check their booking on ba.com prior to travel.”
BA has made around 15,000 planned flight cancellations so far this summer, and it appears the airline can fit almost its entire Heathrow operation into a single terminal.
Its partners Iberia and American Airlines have substantial presences at Terminal 5 currently. But the Flyertalk forum is reporting: “American Airlines will consolidate all AA LHR operations Terminal 3 effective July 1, 2022.”
The Independent is seeking comment from American Airlines.
Links from Terminal 3 have traditionally been those with the smallest proportion of connecting traffic to other BA routes. An “airside” bus connection or “landside” rail connection is required by passengers with transfers to and from Terminal 5.
The news emerged as the Civil Aviation Authority said it wants passenger charges at Heathrow to fall every year until 2026.
Routes affected
Long haul flights moving from T3 to T5
- Accra
- Austin
- Barbados
- Buenos Aires*
- Las Vegas
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Sao Paulo*
(* Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo are currently operated as a single service)
Short haul flights moving from T3 to T5
- Algiers
- Brindisi
- Bologna
- Budapest
- Faro
- Krakow
- Ljubljana
- Marseille
- Nuremberg
- Olbia
- Prague
- Pisa
- Split
- Toulouse
- Valencia
- Zagreb
Short haul flights staying in T3
- Bastia
- Billund
- Bucharest
- Gibraltar
- Gothenburg
- Lyon
- Naples
- Oslo
- Porto
- Pula
- Tirana
- Vienna
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments