BAA, Britain's airport operating company, is gearing up for construction of Heathrow Airport's GBP1.6 billion (about HK$19 billion) Terminal 5 development even though a public planning inquiry is under way.
The firm confirmed major building contracts will be awarded later this year for work to begin in April 1998.
BAA group technical director Michael Main said it was likely that at the end of this year the firm would have construction companies on board.
The terminal, dedicated to British Airways' international services, will handle about 30 million passengers a year when it becomes operational in 2003.
When the new complex is complete British Airways will move out of Terminal 4 allowing other long-haul airlines, including Cathay Pacific Airways, to expand into more spacious surroundings from the cramped conditions at Terminal 3.
British Airways is hoping the new complex will help ease congestion. Last year it paid more than GBP8.3 million in extra fuel costs, a 16 per cent increase over 1993-94.
Head of environment Hugh Somerville said the airline burned 55,000 extra tonnes of fuel because of stacking at Heathrow and Gatwick in 1994-95.
