Aer Lingus will be one of the biggest operators at Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 when the £2.5bn (€2.9bn) facility opens next year.
The terminal is due to open to the public next June, with construction being completed this November.
It will also mean an end to the tortuous circumnavigation currently required by Irish passengers at Heathrow’s existing Terminal 1. That terminal will be demolished in 2016 and rebuilt.
Terminal 2 is being built to handle about 20 million passengers a year. An extension will provide capacity for another 10 million.
Aer Lingus will move flights to Terminal 2 on July 9 next year, according to Heathrow’s schedule. It will be the ninth airline to commence operations from the new facility. United, Air Canada and Air China are among the first. A total of 26 airlines are planning to use it.
It’s estimated that Aer Lingus will account for about 10pc of the capacity usage at the new terminal, with the Lufthansa group and United among the biggest users. Aer Lingus will also fit out a new lounge, while check-in for Virgin’s domestic ‘Little Red’ service that Aer Lingus leases aircraft and crew to, will be based beside the Irish carrier’s desks.
Irish Independent