London Heathrow airport's new Terminal 2 will be home to Aer Lingus as well as Virgin Atlantic's upcoming domestic network when it opens in 2014.
The new terminal - part of an £11 billion ($17.7 billion) development programme at Heathrow - is being styled as the new home of the Star Alliance at the UK hub, adopting an under-one-roof concept for its member carriers.
But following a nine-month consultation it has also been earmarked as the future home of Ireland's flag carrier, as well as Virgin's upcoming domestic services.
Virgin will initially launch its short-haul flights from Terminal 1 next year, before transferring them over to Terminal 2 in 2014. Its international services will continue to operate out of Terminal 3.
"Heathrow is still in discussion with those airlines which currently operate from Terminal 1 and are not members of the Star Alliance about their future location when Terminal 1 closes," the airport says. "We expect to conclude these discussions in early 2013."
The other non-Star carriers affected by the closure of Terminal 1 are El Al, Icelandair, Cyprus Airways, Germanwings and Transaero.
Virgin Atlantic will launch domestic flights to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester in April 2013 under a wet lease agreement with Aer Lingus. The carrier says it wants to restore domestic competition following the closure of BMI.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
