Friday March 14, 01:47 PM
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II opens new terminal at Heathrow airport
LONDON (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II on Friday unveiled a new terminal at London's main Heathrow airport Friday -- the first in 20 years and the day after a major security breach disrupted flights.
The 81-year-old monarch toured the vast 4.3-billion-pound Terminal Five (T5) with her husband, Prince Philip, meeting staff and dignitaries before officially declaring it open.
The queen, who opened the first passenger terminal at Heathrow in 1955, described the new facility as "highly impressive" and a "21st century gateway to Britain", praising the environmentally-friendly features in its design.
"Looking around this bright and airy space in its clearly efficient layout, I am sure that many millions of travellers will have reason to be appreciative of the thought and care that has gone into the design, construction and maintenance of this significant new building," she added.
T5, which has been 15 years in planning and construction, will be able to handle 30 million passengers a year once it opens exclusively to British Airways (LSE: BAY.L - news) passengers on March 27.
It (Frankfurt: A0MLX5 - news) has 13 miles of tunnels, 10 miles of baggage conveyor belts, while the Piccadilly Tube line has been extended to transport passengers to and from central London.
Heathrow, which handles 68 million passengers a year, is already one of the world's biggest airports, but has for years been plagued by overcrowding in its hotch-potch of ageing buildings due to soaring demand for air travel.
But it opens as campaigners step up protests over plans for a third runway, which are backed by operator BAA and the government.
The queen's visit came amid tight security after threats by campaigners to stage a new demonstration timed with the terminal's opening to the public and Thursday's security breach.
The unnamed man, who scaled a perimeter fence and ran on to a runway, was still in custody Friday, Scotland Yard told AFP. Police carried out a controlled explosion of two bags he dropped.
Environmentalists, some local people and even London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, are opposed to the further expansion of Heathrow on pollution and congestion grounds.
Activists from Greenpeace -- who described T5 as a "monument to the binge-flying culture" -- breached security at Heathrow last month, staging a demonstration on top of a jet against the planned new runway.
Three days later, protesters from a group called Plane Stupid made headlines when they managed to get on to the top of parliament.
Another group, No Third Runway Action Group (NOTRAG), says it plans "flash mob" protests at the March 27 opening, according to their website.
BAA chairman Nigel Rudd defended the third runway plans Friday, telling BBC radio: "We have to compete in the world. The nation has to decide whether we want to be a world class nation or a second-class nation."
A further four billion pounds will be spent in the coming years to knock down the ageing terminals one and two to make way for a new terminal, which will use 40 percent less energy, he added.
Airline bosses say the new terminal, which covers an area roughly the size of London's Hyde Park at the western edge of the sprawling airport site, is essential to cope with rising demand.
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