BAA is to build a new temporary terminal at Heathrow as part of a £ 20 million strategy to handle the influx of athletes and spectators for the London Olympics. This will be a major event for Heathrow and will be keenly watched after the problems with the opening of a Terminal 5 in 2008.
The Games Terminal will operate on 13-15 August to handle the surge of departing athletes. Heathrow predicted August 13 would be its busiest day ever, with an estimated 138,000 passengers carrying 203,000 bags are expected to fly out on that Monday, compared with the usual 95,000 departures and 150,000 departing bags.
It is expected to divert up to 10,100 people and 37,900 bags from other terminals.
The terminal will be built on an area currently used for staff car parking on the south side of the airport.
The 70m x 55m structure will contain 31 check-in desks and be dismantled after the games.
To help ease the pressure at the airport, a check-in and bag-drop area will be created at the Olympic athletes’ village: more than 60,000 bags are expected to pass through, as well as sports equipment such as javelins and canoes.
No flights will leave from there, with athletes bussed to departure lounges.
