London Heathrow airport terminal in fresh turmoil

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — London Heathrow airport's new Terminal 5 was hit by fresh flights disruption on Saturday when the baggage system suffered a major computer glitch, airports operator BAA said.

"This morning a software problem has arisen in the baggage system at Terminal 5. This is entirely BAA's responsibility," a BAA spokeswoman said.

British Airways, which had hoped to operate a full schedule on Saturday for the first time since the terminal opened on March 27, said it had been forced to cancel 24 short-haul flights.

The 4.3-billion-pound (8.7-billion-dollar, 5.6-billion-euro) terminal at one of the world's busiest airports opened with much fanfare but became a public relations disaster within hours when the baggage handling system became overwhelmed.

...