• Home
• /
• Europe

£14.4 billion new designs unveiled for Heathrow airport extension

London - The airport has been in the process of vetting proposals for its expansion plans.

New designs proposals for terminal buildings at London Heathrow Airport have been unveiled. 
Surinder Arora, founder and chairman of Arora Group, unveiled the designs as part of the airport's expansion plan. Known as the 'Western Hub', the buildings are slated to absorb a capacity of 130 million passengers per year, with an estimated cost of £14.4 billion (Dh71.91 billion). This is half the cost of Heathrow Airport Limited's plans provided by the Airports Commission at £31 billion (Dh154.80 billion).
The rival plan was launched with the help of former British Airways boss and member of the Arora Group Heathrow Expansion Advisory Board, Sir Rod Eddington.
The new plans claim to make the airport's expansion more affordable, giving Heathrow the best chance of success when competing with other hub airports like Amsterdam's Schiphol and Paris's Charles De Gaulle, post-Brexit.
The Western Hub plans have been designed by Corgan, internationally acclaimed architects who are responsible for many of the world's leading airport terminals.
New terminal capacity will be concentrated on the western side of Heathrow, between  existing Terminal 5 (T5) and M25. Hence, the need to redevelop existing terminals in the Heathrow central area (Terminals 2 and 3) is eliminated.
Instead of new, independent terminal buildings, the Western Hub integrates new passenger facilities with T5 into a single hub campus. 
At the heart is a new central concourse which will serve as a front door for all 85 million passengers using the Western Hub. This building will be a magnificent and vibrant grand space, designed to amaze passengers and capture the excitement of air travel. 
It will provide efficient check-in facilities and compelling commercial amenities. The plan includes a bridge that will house shops and restaurants and link terminals to new gate buildings. 
It will provide efficient check-in facilities and compelling commercial amenities, including one of the UK's largest and most important rail interchanges.
The central concourse will provide fast and easy access to Terminal 5 and the new Terminal 6. An elevated bridge concourse will provide panoramic views over the airfield for passengers, and easy navigation underneath for aircraft.
Arora said, "Our approach has been to work closely with airlines, employing the world's best and most experienced airport designers. This is clearly evident in our plans. Heathrow has been in monopoly control for too long - our proposals show what can be achieved through an alternative approach when Heathrow fully welcomed competition."
He further added, "We welcomed Monday's consultation from the CAA. It is helpful to have talks in place. We are eager to work with all parties to realise the best solution for Heathrow. 
"We are passionate about developing a Heathrow that delivers a truly world-leading experience."
Eddington said: "Heathrow used to be the premium global aviation hub but has suffered under the current monopoly."