Terminal 5 Opens To The Public Amidst Baggage Problems And Protests

Heathrow Terminal 5 has finally opened but problems with baggage have already occured.

Complaints have apparently been made after luggage failed to arrive from a flight which BA are blaming on "staff familiarisation." The airport also encountered a 'flash protest' earlier in the day by hundreds of people protesting at the proposed sixth terminal building and runway. Dressed in Stop Airport Expansion T-shirts they held banners and carried out a peaceful demonstration.

The baggage problems occured early on Thursday when passengers from a flight from Frankfurt had to wait for two hours until their bags could be retrieved. BAA operate the baggage system at Terminal 5 and have confirmed that they experienced a system fault at 9:00GMT that had a knock on effect and disrupted 3 flights.

Amongst other problems with the terminal building were a broken escalator, problem with paying at the car park and passengers finding the road signs confusing.

The reports have not all been negative however as some passengers have praised the new terminal  and Chief Executive Willie Walsh said "I'm absolutely delighted with the way things have gone so far. I think it's great."

Protests

The opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 saw a protest by hundreds of the Stop Airport Expansion group who were wearing T-shirts with the same phrase as their name.

BAA have said that the opening of the new terminal will not mean increased flights but existing flights will be spread across another terminal spreading the congestion out to hopefully make Heathrow Airport more pleasurable. The protestors have argued this and said that the new terminal will mean more noise, pollution  and stress for the local area.

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Her Majesty The Queen To Open Heathrow Terminal 5 Today

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Published by: Jon Vickery