Terminal 5 Boss To Quit

The man at the helm of Heathrow airport’s disastrous Terminal 5 has announced he is quitting his job.

Airport boss Mark Bullock said he had "chosen to leave" his Managing Director post due to a change of management roles, according to the Spanish-owned British Airports Authority.

This news follows last week’s condemnation of the T5 fiasco by MPs, who said the incident had "made a fool out of the country", calling for an explanation for the problems.

Many flights were cancelled and thousands of bags lost when the £4.3bn terminal was opened in late March.

Mr Bullock is not the first high profile aviation manager to submit his resignation following the T5 launch.

Last month saw two of British Airway’s top executives, Operations Director Gareth Kirkwood and Customer Service Director David Noyes, announce they were leaving the airline following the problems at T5.

BAA's Chief Executive Colin Matthews said Mr Bullock had "made a significant contribution to BAA and to Heathrow Airport in particular and has led the airport through a particularly challenging period".

Mr Bullock is to be suceeded by Mike Brown, currently the Chief Operating Officer at London Underground.

The Transport Select Committee heard last week that Mr Matthews "was unaware" that T5 was not ready when it opened for business.

MP’s were told how baggage systems had not been tested sufficiently and lifts were out of order.

BAA's Non-Executive Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, said he was "bitterly disappointed" about the opening of the terminal.

"It was clearly a huge embarrassment to the company, me personally and the board," Sir Nigel said.

BAA Limited is the owner and operator of seven British airports and the operator of several other airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world.

It is owned by a consortium led by Grupo Ferrovial, a Spanish firm specialising in infrastructure.

See: Bumpy Ride For British Airways At T5

(PR)