Queen Elizabeth opens new Heathrow terminal

Queen Elizabeth opened a giant, luxury terminal at London's Heathrow airport yesterday, despite security breaches by protesters opposed to expanding the world's busiest international air gateway.

The soaring glass and metal Terminal Five, Britain's largest enclosed space, will be the new home of British Airways, channelling passengers past Gucci and Prada boutiques and a restaurant by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

"Looking around this bright and airy space with its clean efficient layout, I am sure that many millions of travellers will have reason to be appreciative," the queen said.

On the eve of the queen's visit, police arrested a man who ran out onto a Heathrow runway.

Police exploded his bag as a precaution but did not find a bomb and said they did not believe the incident was terrorism-related. His motive was not clear.

Green protesters worry the new terminal is just the first stage in a vast new expansion that will see a third runway, sixth terminal and up to twice as many passengers.

Last month, protesters broke into the airport and wrapped a banner around a plane. Others chained themselves to the roof of the House of Commons.

The airport's operator BAA, owned by Spanish firm Ferrovial, says passengers want luxury shops. Critics say the company should do more to speed passengers quickly onto aircraft and less to try to make money from them as they wait.

"London deserves a first-class airport. We are starting today. This is a new beginning," BAA chairman Nigel Rudd told BBC television.

He said plans to replace aging Terminals One and Two would mean 70 per cent of passengers will be using new terminals within four years.

Heathrow began as a tented village in 1946. When it last expanded in the 1980s it was designed to handle about 45 million passengers a year, but it now squeezes 67.3 million through.

Because of its crowding, Heathrow has had one of the worst rates of airport delays in the world. Business leaders have complained the logjam could jeopardise London's status as a global financial centre.