On June 14, Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport will open to travellers for the first time in more than two years.

The move is part of plans to ramp up airport capacity ahead of the summer season. Qatar Airways will be the first airline to move, followed by 30 more over the next weeks.

The move will give Terminal 4 airlines more check-in space and stand capacity as well as full access to their premium facilities, and will also free up space in Terminals 2, 3 and 5.

While Terminal 4 was mothballed, Heathrow carried out a series of refurbishments, including upgrading toilets, air conditioning and hold baggage screening machines. 

Local buses, Piccadilly Line underground services and the newly opened Elizabeth Line will operate into T4 from June 14 to provide easy access for passengers and colleagues. A wide range of retail, food and beverage outlets will be available, and more will open over the summer as airline occupancy increases.

Heathrow is recruiting up to 1,000 new security officers and other members of staff, as well as supporting airlines and handlers in their recruitment programmes. The airport has also increased its customer service team to help manage queues at check-in, make sure passengers are ready for security and ensure they catch their flights.

Throughout the summer peak, Heathrow is also bolstering its ‘Here to Help’ team, which sees head office staff, including all senior managers, mobilised across the four terminals and on hand to assist passengers, answer questions and welcome them back to air travel.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “While we are still years away from passenger numbers returning to pre-pandemic levels, reopening Terminal 4 will give airlines at Heathrow extra space across the airport, helping them manage the impact additional travel documents continue to have on check-in times.”