The Queen opened Heathrow Airport's new Terminal Five and congratulated staff involved in the successful completion of the project. In her speech, Her Majesty spoke of the new building as one which, 'embodies many achievements, of which you can all be rightly proud.'
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A gleaming Terminal Five awaits The Queen's arrival
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The new terminal will open for business for up to 30 million passengers a year on 27 March.
The Queen opened the airport's first passenger terminal, the Europa Building (now called Terminal Two), over half a century ago in 1955.
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The Queen is given a tour of the new terminal, which will open for business on 27 March
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Accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty was greeted by hundreds of airport and construction workers. Some 60,000 people have put in a total of 100 million man hours to build Terminal Five since construction work began in September 2002.
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The Queen meets staff involved in the building of Terminal Five
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The Queen then met senior staff, including Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of airport operator BAA, who said of the project:
'It is, by any standard, a triumph of ambition, commitment and collaboration. It will breathe new life into Heathrow.
Terminal Five will soon be the starting point for many exciting journeys and it will be a place too for many happy reunions, as travellers come home to loved ones.'
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Terminal Five will welcome up to 30 million passengers a year
© Press Association |
Prior to inaugurating Terminal Five, The Queen viewed a musical finale by a 30-strong choir who performed a specially commissioned choral composition to mark the new terminal coming to life.
The Terminal Five complex features 60 new aircraft stands, two satellite buildings, rail links to London Underground and Heathrow Express, a new multi-storey car park and extensive landscaping. |
