London Heathrow Airport has opened its new Terminal 2, The Queen’s Terminal, which now hosts several additional carriers. New arrivals include South African Airways, TAP Portugal and Swiss International Air Lines, joining other members of the Star Alliance.
The Queen’s Terminal offers a contemporary travel environment with a wide selection of shops and dining options: 33 retail outlets and 17 restaurants designed to serve passengers at every stage of their journey. The terminal’s layout and facilities emphasize efficient transfers, customer comfort and clear wayfinding, creating a streamlined experience for both arriving and departing travelers.
A key improvement at Terminal 2 is the reduced minimum connecting time within the terminal. Connections can now be made in 60 minutes, down from the previous 75-minute requirement. This change helps passengers make faster, more reliable connections between flights operated by Star Alliance carriers and others using the terminal, while still allowing sufficient time for security checks, transfer procedures and any necessary passport control.
Beyond faster connections, Terminal 2 integrates modern amenities and passenger services that reflect contemporary airport design: spacious public areas, accessible facilities, and improved signage to guide travelers between gates, shops and dining venues. The terminal’s expanded retail and food offering caters to a range of preferences, from quick grab-and-go options to sit-down meals, and includes opportunities to shop for travel essentials, gifts and premium products.
For airlines, the centralized Star Alliance presence in Terminal 2 supports smoother operations and better coordination for connecting passengers. For travelers, it means fewer inter-terminal transfers and reduced transit times when flying on Alliance partners. The combination of upgraded infrastructure, passenger-focused services and the reduced connecting time aims to make Heathrow transfers more convenient and predictable.
Overall, The Queen’s Terminal represents Heathrow’s commitment to modernizing passenger facilities and improving the travel experience. With new carriers joining the terminal’s roster and the enhanced connection times, passengers can expect a more efficient interchange between flights, an expanded range of retail and dining choices, and a comfortable environment for travel through one of the world’s busiest airports.