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Mar 15, 2006
The member airlines of the
oneworld alliance and BAA Heathrow have signed an agreement which will provide
world-class passenger experience for oneworld customers following the opening
of the London
airport's Terminal 5 in March 2008.
At present, oneworld carriers
– who account for more than 50 percent of Heathrow's traffic with 35 million
passengers a year traveling on around 700 departures and arrivals a day – are
split across all four of Heathrow's terminals. Under the memorandum of
understanding (MoU) signed between them and BAA Heathrow, their operations will
be consolidated in the £4.2 billion (US$7.6 billion) Terminal 5 and in an
upgraded Terminal 3, which is the closest of the existing terminals to the new
facility. oneworld carriers will share adjacent check-in desks, piers and other
facilities in Terminal 3.
BAA Heathrow describes the
MoU as a key part of its strategy to co-locate airline alliances. It is
currently investing significantly in Terminal 3 and its agreement with oneworld
will ensures that the transformation of Terminal 3 continues. To provide a
better overall customer experience at Terminal 3, the building will undergo a modernization
program with £200 million to be spent on passenger and baggage-related projects
during the next seven years.
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