Air Canada operates first flight to Heathrow T2

Air Canada has today operated its first flight into London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 – The Queen’s Terminal.

Flight AC856 from Toronto, a Boeing 777-300 with 290 customers and a crew of 11 on board, arrived at 0704 local time.

It was the first of Air Canada’s 11 scheduled flight arrivals at Terminal 2 today.

“The new terminal will enhance our customers’ travel experience with improved services and facilities as well as our own Maple Leaf Lounge showcasing world-class Canadian products,” said Robert Atkinson, general manager U.K, Ireland and Northern Europe at Air Canada.

Earlier this month (June 4) a United Airlines UA958 service from Chicago became the first flight to land at the new £2.5 billion Heathrow Terminal 2.

All 23 Star Alliance airlines operating Heathrow will move over the next six months in a phased approach, as the airport attempts to avoid the chaos in 2008 when Heathrow Terminal 5 opened. Delays, missing baggage and huge queues led to widespread criticism of the airport.

Air Canada and United Airlines are currently the only airlines operating at T2.