BA pilots strike back as Terminal 5 troubles continue

The troubles at London Heathrow's Terminal 5 persisted over the weekend, this time owing mainly to poor weather conditions.

British Airways cancelled 126 flights at LHR Sunday--114 because of heavy snowfall and 12 owing to computer glitches at T5--and another 34 at T5 yesterday as it battled a scheduling backlog. It also cancelled 32 flights at Gatwick Sunday.

The carrier, which until now has taken the full blame for the disastrous opening of its new passenger facility (ATWOnline, April 2), this time pointed the finger at the airport operator. "As a result of the continuing BAA baggage system failure in Terminal 5, we have had to cancel six short-haul return flights [six in and six out] on Sunday," BA said. "We are urging BAA to resolve these issues as soon as possible."

For the British Airline Pilots Assn., the failings at T5 are "symptomatic of BA's loss of focus in delivering a sound operation." In an open letter to city institutions and the UK government published on its website, BALPA called for a change in how the airline is run. "BA management has taken its eye off the ball and it is time UK plc held them to account," General Secretary Jim McAuslan wrote. "This airline can and should make Britain proud but a fundamental change of attitude is required from the very highest levels of BA management."