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New baggage system for Terminal 2 will help Heathrow’s transformation
Heathrow has made a deal with BEUMER Group for the construction of a state-of-the-art replacement baggage system in Terminal 2, which is scheduled to take 6 years for the entire project. Unbelievably, they are still using the 30-year-old Terminal 1 baggage system despite Terminal 2 being a new building!
Once complete, the system will be capable of handling 31,000 bags a day with improved resilience. New technology with greater data analytics means the upgrade should give the predictable and reliable service customers need.
The project also allows the next phase of demolishing Terminal 1 – which closed to passengers in 2015. The airport’s long term-plan will completely transform the Central Terminal Area with new buildings and infrastructure between the airport’s runways.
Once the full removal of Terminal 1 is completed, Terminal 2 will eventually be extended to its full size.
Although airlines and their ground handlers are responsible for the majority of a bag’s journey to the final destination, it’s Heathrow’s systems that sort and scan up to 140,000 departing bags a day as they move between check-in and the airfield. .
Heathrow’s Chief Solutions Officer, Helen Elsby, said: “We know our customers want great and reliable journeys and that begins with having world-class facilities. Installing a new dedicated baggage system in Terminal 2 is the next stage in our plans to breathe new life into the beating heart of Heathrow. Just like home renovations, we’re improving Heathrow room by room as we continue to build the airport of tomorrow, without interrupting the passengers of today.”
BEUMER Group Airport Director, Ronald Willems said: “It is with great pleasure that we have received confirmation that Heathrow has chosen BEUMER Group as the strategic partner for the design and installation of the new baggage handling system in Terminal 2. We’ve collaborated closely with Heathrow, in the true spirit of partnership, throughout these early stages of the process, and it’s a huge honour to be selected as a partner for the T2 project. We’ve put all our technological visions into the design of the new state-of-the-art baggage handling system, which will be based on our CrisBag® technology combined with our data analytics solution.”
British Airways to launch Gatwick – Funchal and terminate Heathrow – Funchal service
TAP to open new Non-Schengen lounge at Lisbon
TAP Air Portugal, will soon open a brand new lounge in the international area of Lisbon Airport for those travelling to countries outside the European Union. The airside lounge is designed to provide greater comfort, privacy and convenience for departing customers on flights outside the Schengen area. With an area of 380m2 , and capacity for around 100 customers, the new TAP lounge will be open every day between 5am and midnight from early 2024.
Sofia Lufinha, TAP Chief Customer Officer said: “Improving customer service is a priority for TAP. This new lounge was a need we had already identified and which we have now been able to fulfil.
“TAP has a very strong presence in markets such as Brazil, the United States or Africa and now we can provide a more comfortable experience for customers travelling on non-Schengen flights.”
Specially designated areas for dining, working, meeting, and relaxing ensure customers benefit from maximum privacy and comfort. The new lounge is also able to showcase temporary exhibitions by Portuguese artists, giving TAP and Star Alliance customers an insight into Portuguese culture and creativity.
The new TAP Lounge will be managed by Ambaar, airport lounge management experts. In collaboration with Lisbon-based aviation catering company Cateringpor, hot and cold Portuguese dining options, served in an observation area overlooking the airport.
The airline, which boasts one of the youngest fleets in Europe, currently has a mix of short-haul and long-haul Airbus aircraft, from the state-of-the-art A330neo to the single-aisle A321neoLR, as well as operating a fleet of ATR and Embraer aircraft for short hops through its regional arm Portugalia.
Virgin Atlantic Increases Capacity To Leisure Destinations In 2024
Virgin Atlantic is introducing frequency increases across its collection of popular leisure destinations. The airline’s recently launched seasonal routes to Dubai and the Maldives will both increase to a daily service for the 2024-25 winter season, along with other destinations. This means that hopefully, there will be more chances to redeem your Virgin points on the more popular leisure routes.
Barbados continues as the most popular destination in Virgin Atlantic’s Caribbean portfolio and will see a record number of flights for 2024. Double daily services will operate from London Heathrow throughout winter 2024, in addition to its four times a week flying from Manchester Airport. The new frequencies are now on sale. Barbados will operate double daily from 27th October, with daily Dubai services resuming on the 26th of October 2024 and daily Maldives on the 27th of October 2024.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “We’re excited to be whisking our customers away on more sunny breaks than ever next year, thanks to our expanding leisure portfolio. Our recent route launches to Dubai and the Maldives have already proved exceptionally popular and we’re pleased to offer more opportunities for our customers to reach these luxurious destinations in 2024 and 2025. We serve a record number of Caribbean islands in 2024 with direct services from London Heathrow to Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, and Turks & Caicos.
“The introduction of twice daily flights from Heathrow to Barbados, alongside our four times a week service from Manchester, cement the island’s position as our most popular destination in the Caribbean. We know our customers love the island’s welcoming hospitality, warm climate and stunning resorts and can’t wait to fly a record number of holidaymakers to this incredible island next year.”
Last week, Virgin Atlantic announced further expansion to its US network. Next summer, it will offer a record number of flights between London and New York, with a seventh daily flight to JFK, and together with its Joint Venture partner Delta, will offer ten daily services to the Big Apple, an increase of 11% compared to summer 2023. In a further boost to its East Coast flying, Virgin Atlantic will also operate a second daily flight to Boston. Complementing Delta’s daily service, Boston will be served with three flights a day.
Customers on Virgin Atlantic’s New York and Boston services departures will experience flying on the airline’s newest aircraft, the A330-900neo, and A350-1000, increasing the number of Upper and Premium seats by 23%. Upper-class passengers looking to treat themselves can also benefit from booking the A330-900neo innovative Retreat Suite, which comprises two spacious exclusive suites at the front of the Upper-class cabin.
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3 comments
I’ve always found that the use of the old T1 baggage system at LHR was reassuring when using T2, after all, it’s free from the periodic melt downs of the newer T5 system where I only ever travel with hand luggage. I do hope the new system is not in any way based on the T5 system.
Meanwhile great news from TAP, a non-Schengen lounge will be a great addition given that for services to the UK and Ireland you have to clear passport control. LIS is better than most places for a UK passport holder as you can still use the egates and fine with my newly minted Irish one but passport control is always an unknown and you end up leaving the lounge with usually, too much time to spare ‘just in case’ so a non-Schengen lounge will be a great improvment when passiing through LIS, I only wonder what took TAP so long.
That’s a picture of an A320, not a 737. BA doesn’t have any 737s.
Thank God. May it ever remain thus.
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