Heathrow’s terminal 2 has closed its doors for the final time this week to make way for a £1bn replacement.

The building, as well as the neighbouring Queen’s Building, will be demolished. Work will start on a new terminal 2 next year which is set to open in 2014 as the Heathrow home of the Star Alliance airlines, including Lufthansa.

The new terminal 2 will be more than three times its current size. The opening of the first phase will accommodate 20 million passengers a year, rising to 30 million following the opening of an additional satellite terminal. Terminal 1 will close after this second phase is completed, currently scheduled for 2019.

BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: “The closure of Terminal 2 marks an important moment in the modernisation of Heathrow.

“We look forward to the new Terminal 2 providing a new home for the Star Alliance and a better experience for our passengers, with less impact on the environment.

BAA claims the new terminal will have a carbon footprint that is 40% smaller than the buildings it is replacing, in part through the use of solar panels on its roof as well as better use of natural daylight.

Terminal 2 was the first of Heathrow’s terminals to open. It was originally called the Europa Building on opening in 1955 but only changed its name after the opening of terminal 1 in 1969. It was originally designed to handle 1.2 million passengers annually but has coped with 8 million passengers in recent years.

Air France flights move from the terminal, joining the other members of the SkyTeam alliance in terminal 4. Five Star Alliance member carriers transferred their flights to terminal 1 over the summer.