London Heathrow is the biggest airport in the UK, and it also handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the world.
London
Heathrow
is
the
biggest
airport
in
the
UK
,
and
it
also
handles
more
international
passenger
traffic
than
any
other
airport
in
the
world
.
For this reason, enlargement was planned and on 27th March a fifth terminal opened to help to deal with the many passengers that pass through the airport.
For
this
reason
,
enlargement
was
planned
and
on
27th
March
a
fifth
terminal
opened
to
help
to
deal
with
the
many
passengers
that
pass
through
the
airport
.
The new terminal has taken a long time to plan and build.
The
new
terminal
has
taken
a
long
time
to
plan
and
build
.
The idea was first proposed back in the 1980s.
The
idea
was
first
proposed
back
in
the
1980s
.
The opening of it has been talked about widely in the media in the UK and expectations were high for the PS4.3 billion project.
The
opening
of
it
has
been
talked
about
widely
in
the
media
in
the
UK
and
expectations
were
high
for
the
PS4.3
billion
project
.
However, in spite of long preparations at Terminal 5 ahead of the grand opening, things soon went into a mess.
However
,
in
spite
of
long
preparations
at
Terminal
5
ahead
of
the
grand
opening
,
things
soon
went
into
a
mess
.
There were problems from the very beginning as staff had difficulties finding car parking spaces and getting through security to get into the building.
There
were
problems
from
the
very
beginning
as
staff
had
difficulties
finding
car
parking
spaces
and
getting
through
security
to
get
into
the
building
.
This consequently caused a delay when passengers started to arrive and large numbers of staff were not in place.
This
consequently
caused
a
delay
when
passengers
started
to
arrive
and
large
numbers
of
staff
were
not
in
place
.
Long passenger queues formed and the slow start meant that everyone had to play catch-up from the beginning.
Long
passenger
queues
formed
and
the
slow
start
meant
that
everyone
had
to
play
catch-up
from
the
beginning
.
Staffs were having problems using the new systems and a baggage operator told the BBC, it was all "shambles the moment the doors opened".
Staffs
were
having
problems
using
the
new
systems
and
a
baggage
operator
told
the
BBC
,
it
was
all
``
shambles
the
moment
the
doors
opened
''
.
The terminal has been designed to handle 12,000 bags an hour but due to a reported "lack of training and essential support that was promised", a backlog of luggage soon appeared.
The
terminal
has
been
designed
to
handle
12,000
bags
an
hour
but
due
to
a
reported
``
lack
of
training
and
essential
support
that
was
promised
''
,
a
backlog
of
luggage
soon
appeared
.
By lunchtime on that first day, 20 flights had been cancelled to try to alleviate the problems.
By
lunchtime
on
that
first
day
,
20
flights
had
been
cancelled
to
try
to
alleviate
the
problems
.
Flights continued to be cancelled in the days following the opening and up to 28,000 bags have now had to be placed in temporary storage.
Flights
continued
to
be
cancelled
in
the
days
following
the
opening
and
up
to
28,000
bags
have
now
had
to
be
placed
in
temporary
storage
.
The British Airline, the only airline operating at Terminal 5 says it is working to clear the backlog, but the negative publicity caused by the shambles has not helped the airport or the airline's reputation at all.
The
British
Airline
,
the
only
airline
operating
at
Terminal
5
says
it
is
working
to
clear
the
backlog
,
but
the
negative
publicity
caused
by
the
shambles
has
not
helped
the
airport
or
the
airline
's
reputation
at
all
.
London Heathrow is the biggest airport in the UK, and it also handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the world. For this reason, enlargement was planned and on 27th March a fifth terminal opened to help to deal with the many passengers that pass through the airport. The new terminal has taken a long time to plan and build. The idea was first proposed back in the 1980s. The opening of it has been talked about widely in the media in the UK and expectations were high for the PS4.3 billion project.  However, in spite of long preparations at Terminal 5 ahead of the grand opening, things soon went into a mess. There were problems from the very beginning as staff had difficulties finding car parking spaces and getting through security to get into the building. This consequently caused a delay when passengers started to arrive and large numbers of staff were not in place. Long passenger queues formed and the slow start meant that everyone had to play catch-up from the beginning. Staffs were having problems using the new systems and a baggage operator told the BBC, it was all "shambles the moment the doors opened". The terminal has been designed to handle 12,000 bags an hour but due to a reported "lack of training and essential support that was promised", a backlog of luggage soon appeared.  By lunchtime on that first day, 20 flights had been cancelled to try to alleviate the problems. Flights continued to be cancelled in the days following the opening and up to 28,000 bags have now had to be placed in temporary storage. The British Airline, the only airline operating at Terminal 5 says it is working to clear the backlog, but the negative publicity caused by the shambles has not helped the airport or the airline's reputation at all.