It looks as though Heathrow’s Terminal 5 is being turned into a oneworld hub with the arrival of alliance member Japan Airlines. Since it opened, Terminal 5 has been a British Airways stronghold. However, thanks to the current situation, things at Heathrow have been changing.
Anybody who has changed between British Airways and another oneworld airline on a connecting itinerary at London Heathrow will know that the experience isn’t the most pleasant. However, such interchanges should soon become easier as Japan Airlines becomes the fourth oneworld airline at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
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Moving to Terminal 5
The current situation affecting the aviation industry has shaken things up at London Heathrow. Only half of the airport’s terminals are currently open. Initially, British Airways and Iberia were using Terminal 5, while the remaining airlines were left to fill Terminal 2. However, several airlines have now made a move across to Terminal 5. Notably, these have all been oneworld alliance member airlines.
Japan Airlines is the latest airline to make a move to join its oneworld sisters in London Heathrow’s newest terminal. The airport today announced that Japan Airlines would make a move across the airfield on Wednesday (July 29th), according to its Twitter feed.
Japan Airlines will be temporarily relocating from T2 to T5 as of Wednesday (29th July). If this is your airline, please contact them directly for further details: https://t.co/Hmo877HhgM
Visit our terminal guide for latest updates: https://t.co/yXtXxQNITk. pic.twitter.com/jFSyj3Jj5f
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) July 27, 2020
oneworld family
It seems as though Terminal 5 could become a oneworld fortress, as Japan Airlines isn’t the only alliance member airline to make a move across. American Airlines, a founding member of the alliance, moved all of its services across to Terminal 5 earlier this month.
From 27 July, #QatarAirways departures and arrivals at @HeathrowAirport are temporarily moving from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5. We look forward to joining some of our @traveloneworld partners at this award-winning terminal. pic.twitter.com/hwlD2kCWA2
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) July 24, 2020
American Airlines wasn’t alone, though, as just today, Qatar Airways also moved its services across to Terminal 5. Qatar Airways explicitly acknowledged its oneworld partners, commenting, “We look forward to joining some of our @traveloneworld partners at this award-winning terminal.” in a tweet about the move.
Is anybody else moving?
According to Head For Points, there is still one airline left to make a move to Terminal 5. The website points out that Finnair is expected to move across the field in mid-August. However, it seems as though Terminal 5 won’t be accepting any more new arrivals for the time being.
Head For Points goes on to add that Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, Royal Air Maroc, and SriLankan Airlines are all expected to remain at Terminal 2 when they resume flights to and from London Heathrow respectively.
The oneworld alliance is currently in the process of building its first in-house lounge in Moscow. Previously, all lounges were offered by member airlines. For the time being, the Terminal 5 moves are only temporary. However, if the airlines stay in the terminal, perhaps London could be a good choice for the next oneworld lounge?
Are you happy to see oneworld members coalescing at Heathrow’s Terminal 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
