Queen opens Heathrow’s new Terminal 2

Queen Elizabeth officially opened Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 on 23 June, almost 60 years after she inaugurated the first civil aviation building at what was to be transformed from a military facility to London’s main airport.

The new Terminal 2, which has been open to its first passengers since 4 June, has had a €2.5 billion makeover. It will be gradually eased into full operation over a six-month period to avoid the difficulties that followed the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008.

United Airlines, Air Canada, Japanese ANA and Air China are the first to use the new building but when it is finally completed it will service 26 airlines flying to 54 destinations.

One of its new features is a “flying” sculpture by Richard Wilson, the British sculptor, installation artist and musician, called Slipstream.

Terminal 2 has always been known as the Queen’s Building after she opened the first structure there in 1955. It has now been renamed The Queen’s Terminal.