T5 a complete shambles, but Flashmob a success

27.03.2008
Heathrow’s Terminal 5 opened today with a great fanfair. By mid afternoon the much vaunted, computerised, luggage system was shut down and dozens of flights cancelled.

However the 11am Flashmob went ahead without a hitch.

10.59, and the International Arrivals area was a predictable dull grey.

11.00, and it turned red, as hundreds of activists stripped off their outer layers to reveal their ‘Stop Airport Expansion’ T‑shirts.

We’d all taken cameras, expecting to crack of a couple of shots and run to the bogs to hide the memory cards but — no need!. The balcony above was packed shoulder to shoulder with photographers and film crews, all ignoring the meedja ops provided by BAA in favour of covering the Flashmob.

Later coverage was disappointing (dunno about tomorrows papers) but because even better news was emerging that the T5 opening had turned out to be a complete fuck up. After promising to the flying world that Heathrow’s problems were licked, the place ground to a miserable halt within hours.

Amongst others, www.news.bbc.co.uk writes:

“The suspension of luggage check-in was just the latest problem to hit passengers hoping to leave T5 on its opening day.

BA earlier announced “initial teething problems” with car parking provision, delays in staff security screening and staff familiarisation had resulted in a backlog of baggage. ”

Very good news indeed for everyone except BA and BAA. Now all we have to wait for is for BAA and its parent company Ferrovial to go bust, widely expected to happen less than a year from now, see:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3ca6b20a-fad7-11dc-aa46-000077b07658.html

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