01/04/2008

Baggage Blues For BA Passengers

The beleaguered airline, BA has issued a fresh apology to thousands of travellers who are without their luggage.

Chaos ensued after the opening of Terminal 5, with problems ranging from staff parking to computer hitches.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said the airline is holding 19,000 bags in temporary storage and hoped to begin returning 5,000 of them to their owners.

BA cancelled 54 flights on Monday, and today the airline withdrew 50 flights from T5.

A BA spokeswoman said there would be fewer cancellations on Wednesday but it was still too early to say when the terminal would begin normal operations.

Mr Walsh has admitted that T5's first day was a "disaster" and that he was "bitterly disappointed" that it was not the success it should have been.

He said: "We've had about 200,000 people go through T5. I know the press will portray this as Heathrow chaos.

"But for many of those people it will have been a pleasant experience and I remain very confident that T5 will deliver."

Analysts think that the baggage fiasco which marred the 4.3 billion terminal's opening could cost BA between £20 million and £50 million.

(DS/JM)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 March 2008
'Teething Problems' For T5
The opening of the new Terminal 5 building at Heathrow has been marred by cancelled flights and baggage delays. According to reports, British Airways, which is operating from the new terminal, were forced to cancel 34 flights by 2pm on Thursday due to "teething problems".
11 April 2008
T5 Not Fully Operational Until June
Ongoing problems at British Airways beleaguered Terminal 5 means that full operations will not be transferred to the terminal until June. BA had hoped to transfer most of its long-haul flights to T5 by April 30, the move of 60 departures and 60 arrivals a day will now be deferred.
07 November 2008
BA Announces Profits Slump During 'Bleakest' Six Months
British Airways have announced a 91.6% drop in its half year profits in a period which has been described as "one of the bleakest on record". Pre-tax profits of £52 million plummeted from £616 million last year in the six months to September 30. The Heathrow-based airline carrier revealed the massive drops were a result of the surge in oil prices.
04 June 2014
Heathrow T2 Welcomes First Passengers
Heathrow's new Terminal 2 has welcomed its first passengers, as the airport insists it has learned lessons from the opening of Terminal 5, but warns of potential problems during the new terminal's infancy. The west London £2.
28 March 2008
Bumpy Ride For British Airways At T5
The bumpy start to the opening of Terminal 5 is likely to be replicated today with baggage backlogs, lack of information and tempers fraying. Yesterday hold luggage services were suspended and 34 flights were cancelled.