Birthday milestone as 20 million customers fly through British Airways' Terminal 5

Additionally, in the six months since British Airways' regional services transferred to Terminal 5 in September, 2008, more than 370,000 Middle East passengers have passed through the airline's exclusive £4.3bn (QR23.26bn) home at London's principal airport.

Paolo De Renzis, British Airways' Area Commercial Manager, Middle East, said:

"We have welcomed more than 20 million customers and handled more than 154,000 flights during Terminal 5's first 12 months."

De Renzis said, "This includes 1,120 flights from the Middle East, carrying more than 370,000 regional customers, approximately 37,400 of which have come from Qatar."

"Terminal 5 is a resounding success. Customers continue to give us great praise on their Terminal 5 experience and they really love the speedy check-in, the light and spacious interiors, the lack of queues, smoother transfers and our luxurious lounges," added De Renzis.

British Airways, which flies 100,000 customers per day, revealed Terminal 5 is currently giving customers the best travel experience they have had at Heathrow for many years, with many so impressed they have given the airline its most positive feedback scores ever; more than 75% of customers have said they were extremely or very satisfied with the airline.

"Our operations in Terminal 5 and customers' views of the facilities are giving us a real competitive edge at the moment, which is ever more critical given the tough economic times facing the whole aviation industry," continued De Renzis.

The airline is also achieving its best punctuality and baggage performance figures in almost a decade as a result of the new terminal, which was opened on March 27, 2008.

On most days more than 90% of flights now depart on time, and baggage retrieval is so quick that arriving customers often find their bags waiting to be collected as soon as they clear passport control.