London Heathrow has stated that passengers will be able to anticipate smoother, more reliable journeys as the airport gears up to implement a number of new upgrades in 2026.

New projects include the beginning of construction of a revamp of Terminal 4, which will include the installation of a new multi-storey car park and an upgraded check-in area.

Works will be carried out in phases in order to ensure current operations can continue as normal, with the project set to be completed in 2031.

Additionally, works will begin on a new dedicated baggage system for Terminal 2 which, once completed, aim to provide a more resilient and efficient service for airline customers, increasing handling capabilities to 31,000 per day as well as reducing costs for airlines through fewer misconnected bags.

New cameras are also set to be installed across all of Heathrow’s stands. These cameras will utilise AI to analyse captured data and, as a result, aim to speed up turnaround times between flights by the end of their installation at the end of 2026.

2026 will see new, focused investment for passengers with additional accessibility needs, with a new purpose-built assistance area planned for construction in Terminal 2. The new area aims to offer direct, dedicated access to security for the first time.

Further accessibility improvements across the airport include the provision of new mobility equipment, a new Tailored Travel Guide and upgrades to other assistance areas across the airport as a whole.

In total, the works are expected to amount to around 1.3 billion GBP worth of investment.

Passengers should expect that every time they travel through Heathrow their journey is better than the last. Last December, we said we’d invest in operational performance and this year we’re the most punctual hub in Europe, almost 99% of bags travelled on expected flights and 97% of security queue times were below 5 minutes, and in January, all passengers in all four terminals will benefit from going through new next generation security.

I’m excited to unveil next year’s programme which will make Heathrow more user-friendly, more efficient and more resilient for our customers. This investment will flow directly into our nationwide supply chain helping to drive economic growth whilst we make Heathrow even better and more efficient for our customers.