ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) CEO Ed Bastian has criticized London Heathrow Airport (LHR) over a controversial decision to forcibly move the carrier from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 in 2028.
The move separates Delta from joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic (VS), which stays in Terminal 3. Bastian says Delta will “pursue all available remedies to correct this decision.”
Delta Pushes Back Against Heathrow’s 2028 Reshuffle
Heathrow Airport Limited told airlines the results of its once-a-decade review of terminal occupancy on October 27, 2026. The review covers the airport’s 4 terminals. Most airlines will stay where they are, but 5 carriers must change terminals in 2028. Delta is one of them.
On Monday, November 2, Bastian called the move “short-sighted, deeply disappointing and bad for airline consumers.”
He said the decision “undermines years of investment” and ignores the tightly integrated customer benefits Delta offers in its co-located terminal.
He said the 2 airlines have served millions of customers from Terminal 3 for more than a decade. In that time, they have offered travelers “convenient connections, premium amenities and access to an expanded global network.”
Airlines Changing Terminals at Heathrow
| Airline | Current terminal | Planned terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 |
| Finnair | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 |
| Japan Airlines | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 |
| China Southern | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5 |
| LATAM | Terminal 3 | Terminal 2 |
Delta and Virgin Atlantic Share Terminal
On September 14, 2016, Delta moved its remaining Heathrow flights from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. This fully co-located the airline with Virgin Atlantic.
Delta’s flights to New York-JFK, Boston and Seattle were already operating from Terminal 3. The two airlines have shared the terminal for the past 10 years.
Delta owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. Under their joint venture, the airlines coordinate and share revenue on flights to and from the United States. They also closely synchronize flight times for onward connections, especially on Virgin Atlantic’s network between Heathrow and India.
A shared terminal also helps the airlines coordinate resources. These include check-in agents, engineers and other ground workers, as well as lounge space and gates.
Impact on Connecting Passengers
If the move goes ahead, passengers connecting between Delta and Virgin Atlantic flights will need to take a bus across the airfield.
The same applies in the opposite direction. Terminal 4 is more than a mile and a half from Terminal 3 by bus.
The two airlines will be in separate terminals for the first time since 2016.
SkyTeam Backs Delta and Virgin Atlantic
The SkyTeam alliance, of which Delta is a founding member, responded to the decision a day after Heathrow announced the review results.
According to PYOK, SkyTeam said its 14 member airlines serving Heathrow will remain spread across three terminals.
SkyTeam said this places its members “at a competitive disadvantage.” The alliance also objected to separating Delta and Virgin Atlantic, two joint venture partners with integrated operations.
SkyTeam said it is still reviewing the implications of the planned moves.
Heathrow’s Reasoning for Terminal Moves
Heathrow says it has a plan to “make the best use of current terminal capacity” and improve the overall passenger experience. The airport says the plan will also strengthen operational resilience and create room for growth.
The airport notes that demand keeps growing while capacity stays constrained. It says the small number of moves will unlock more capacity across terminals, reduce congestion, improve passenger flow and help keep passenger costs down.
Legal Options
It is unclear what legal route is available to challenge the decision. Bastian has not outlined specific legal or regulatory steps. He has suggested Delta would take legal action if the option is available and necessary.
He urged Heathrow to reconsider in favor of “a more prudent and thoughtful outcome.” He asked for a result that puts travelers first and allows competition to flourish at the airport.
Virgin Atlantic is reviewing its legal options. CEO Corneel Koster has said the airline is considering “all available options.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delta moving terminals at Heathrow?
Yes. Heathrow plans to move Delta from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 in 2028, following its once-a-decade terminal review.
Is Virgin Atlantic moving too?
No. Virgin Atlantic stays in Terminal 3, so Delta and its joint venture partner will be in separate terminals.
Which other airlines are changing terminals at Heathrow?
Five carriers are moving in total. Finnair and Japan Airlines join Delta in Terminal 4. China Southern moves to Terminal 5, and LATAM moves to Terminal 2.
How will passengers connect between Delta and Virgin Atlantic flights?
Connecting passengers will need to take a bus for the journey of more than a mile and a half between Terminal 4 and Terminal 3.
Why is Heathrow moving airlines?
Heathrow says the moves will free up capacity, reduce congestion, improve passenger flow and help keep costs down while demand grows.
Can Delta challenge the decision?
The legal route is not yet clear. Delta says it will “pursue all available remedies,” and Virgin Atlantic says it is reviewing its legal options.
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