Terminal 5

Press articles

Heathrow's Terminal 5 opened on 27th March 2008 to the hubristic "We are ready, so bring it on", from Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive.

In the first three days over 240 flights affecting 20,000 passengers had been cancelled, and thousands more passengers had suffered delays and lost baggage.

The press was scathing...

Heathrow's Terminal 5 has subsidence PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 01 June 2009 00:00

Heathrow's Terminal 5 building is suffering from subsidence, the airport's owners have admitted.

The £4.3bn terminal has been beset by problems since opening last March. Now the airport has admitted the foundations are rising with floor tiles reportedly having to be repaired on the south side of the terminal.
 
Terminal 5 was built on top of a former sewage works in London clay.

Read the full article in The Telegraph.


Says it all, really.
 
Report attacks 'national embarrassment' PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 03 November 2008 01:00

The chaotic opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5 was a "national embarrassment" caused by a catalogue of errors including a fractious relationship between British Airways and airport owner BAA, according to a report by MPs.

The transport select committee says the debacle revealed "serious failings" by T5's sole tenant and its owner as the debut of a £4.3bn building intended to restore Heathrow's tarnished reputation became a PR disaster. More than 23,000 bags went missing and more than 500 flights were cancelled as the baggage system collapsed despite a six-month training programme and public promises of an end to the notorious "Heathrow hassle".

In its report on the botched opening published today, the committee cites errors including failure to complete the building on time, inadequate staff training and poor cooperation between BA and BAA. The committee says the debacle reinforces its view that BAA, which owns London's top three airports, should be broken up.

Read the full article in The Guardian.


Yes, break up BAA, but let's see something being done about its sidekick BA as well. Like the government stopping pandering to its every whim.

Without these two protagonists there would be no debate about Heathrow expansion. It just wouldn't happen. And if that isn't an indication that the whole thing is a self-interested exercise by BA and BAA we don't know what is.
 
British Airways top directors to leave in wake of T5 fiasco PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 15 April 2008 12:40

Two British Airways directors are to leave the company following its shambolic move to Terminal Five at Heathrow airport, reports The Telegraph.

Gareth Kirkwood, director of operations, and David Noyes, director of customer services, are to go, the company said.

"The departures follow the airline's move to Terminal 5," it said in a brief statement. "The airline is looking to appoint a chief operations officer to combine both roles."

Asked last week if heads would roll over the T5 affair, BA chief executive Willie Walsh appeared to back his top team, stressing: "If people want to assign blame for this, it comes to me."

Read the full article in The Telegraph.


In light of these events we've tried to decipher, "If people want to assign blame for this, it comes to me."

We reckon it means, "Of course I have absolutely no intention of resigning and a few underlings may be fired. The buck doesn't stop here."

Yes, morale must be at an all-time high in BA these days.
 
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