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BA reviews plans to move more flights into T5
British Airways is rethinking plans to move its remaining long-haul services into Terminal 5 by the end of this month.
On April 30, the airline had planned to move a further 20% of its flights from Terminal 4 to the new terminal.
These include flights to New York, Washington, Delhi and Cape Town.
But a spokeswoman today confirmed that the airline was now reviewing the situation, following the major problems experienced at the terminal since it opened last week.
“It’s something that we’re looking at,†she said.
Air France-KLM, which is due to move into the space vacated at T4, said it was “essential’ the move went ahead as planned.
BA has had to cancel 50 domestic and European flights from T5 today but hopes to have 92% of its schedules operating by tomorrow (Thursday).
Meanwhile, it is busy working its way through a mountain of bags, the number of which stood at 20,000 last night.
The spokeswoman said the airline and a team of volunteers were doing a number of things to get bags back to their owners.
“It’s a very complex process. There are various security steps you have to take, and at the moment we are unable to use the automated screening system because there is a problem with it, so it’s all having to be done manually.
“We are taking bags overland, some are going to Gatwick to be processed, and we are also using a specialist sorting facility in Milan to take bags to destinations in mainland Europe. Clearly it’s our priority.â€
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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