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Heathrow's T5 open to passengers Heathrow's T5 open to passengers
(20 minutes later)
Heathrow's new Terminal 5 has opened to the public as British Airways begins operating from the building.Heathrow's new Terminal 5 has opened to the public as British Airways begins operating from the building.
A BA flight from Hong Kong was the first to arrive at the £4.3bn facility. The first departure was at 0620 GMT, when a service left for Paris.A BA flight from Hong Kong was the first to arrive at the £4.3bn facility. The first departure was at 0620 GMT, when a service left for Paris.
Both BA and the airport operator BAA are promising a better passenger experience and fewer delays.Both BA and the airport operator BAA are promising a better passenger experience and fewer delays.
Anti-airport expansion groups took part in a "flash mob" protest at the terminal.Anti-airport expansion groups took part in a "flash mob" protest at the terminal.
Hundreds of protesters opposed to plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow were carrying out a peaceful protest, but BAA said it was not expecting disruption. Hundreds of protesters - wearing Stop Airport Expansion T-shirts and opposed to plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow - carried out a peaceful protest.
Baggage troublesBaggage troubles
There were some teething problems at the airport on Thursday morning.There were some teething problems at the airport on Thursday morning.
Passengers were experiencing difficulties collecting their bags, and there were reports of delays in luggage being loaded onto planes.Passengers were experiencing difficulties collecting their bags, and there were reports of delays in luggage being loaded onto planes.
Some passengers waited two hours for their bags from a Frankfurt flight that landed at around 0830 GMT.Some passengers waited two hours for their bags from a Frankfurt flight that landed at around 0830 GMT.
British Airways confirmed it was experiencing delays on baggage reclaim for incoming flights, blaming staffing issues, in particular problems with "staff familiarisation".British Airways confirmed it was experiencing delays on baggage reclaim for incoming flights, blaming staffing issues, in particular problems with "staff familiarisation".
BA TERMINAL CHANGES 27 March: Domestic and most European flights move from Terminal 1 to T527 March: Long-haul flights from Terminal 1 move to T527 March: Miami service moves from Terminal 3 to T530 March: Algiers moves from Gatwick to T530 April: All Terminal 4 long-haul go to T5 (except Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney)17 Sept: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice and Helsinki move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3Early 2009: Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney move from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 Source: BABA TERMINAL CHANGES 27 March: Domestic and most European flights move from Terminal 1 to T527 March: Long-haul flights from Terminal 1 move to T527 March: Miami service moves from Terminal 3 to T530 March: Algiers moves from Gatwick to T530 April: All Terminal 4 long-haul go to T5 (except Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney)17 Sept: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice and Helsinki move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3Early 2009: Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney move from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 Source: BA
The airline also confirmed that one flight departed without its bags.The airline also confirmed that one flight departed without its bags.
BAA which operates the baggage distribution system at Terminal 5 said it had a brief system fault at 0900 which affected three flights. BAA which operates the baggage distribution system at Terminal 5 said it had a brief system fault at 0900 GMT which affected three flights.
One unlucky passenger was Jenny Uhl, travelling with her friend, Verena Keller.One unlucky passenger was Jenny Uhl, travelling with her friend, Verena Keller.
Ms Uhl said: "The terminal looks nice, but the bag situation is not good."Ms Uhl said: "The terminal looks nice, but the bag situation is not good."
Another passenger, Klaus Hausler, said he had been delayed.Another passenger, Klaus Hausler, said he had been delayed.
"I waited an hour and a half for my bags but could get no information from anyone. It was not good," "I waited an hour and a half for my bags but could get no information from anyone. It was not good," he said.
There were also complaints about confusing road signs for T5, problems for some people attempting to pay at a car park, and a previously working escalator that had broken down. There were also complaints about confusing road signs for T5, problems for some people attempting to pay at a car park, and an escalator that had broken down.
But other passengers praised the terminal and both BA and BAA have warned passengers it will take time for such a huge project to "bed down".But other passengers praised the terminal and both BA and BAA have warned passengers it will take time for such a huge project to "bed down".
BA chief executive Willie Walsh said "I'm absolutely delighted with the way things have gone so far. I think it's great."BA chief executive Willie Walsh said "I'm absolutely delighted with the way things have gone so far. I think it's great."
Until Wednesday, BA services were spread across three of Heathrow's terminals.Until Wednesday, BA services were spread across three of Heathrow's terminals.
The airline has had to embark on a major exercise overnight to move aircraft and handling equipment to the new terminal. The airline had to embark on a major exercise overnight to move aircraft and handling equipment to the new terminal.
Initially, BA will operate domestic and European services from Terminal 5, as well as long-haul flights that currently operate from Terminal 1.Initially, BA will operate domestic and European services from Terminal 5, as well as long-haul flights that currently operate from Terminal 1.
Meanwhile, BAA has had to drop controversial plans to fingerprint domestic passengers after the information commissioner expressed concerns about the move.Meanwhile, BAA has had to drop controversial plans to fingerprint domestic passengers after the information commissioner expressed concerns about the move.
The airport operator said fingerprinting was needed for border security. Instead it will take photographs while the proposal is discussed with the commissioner's office.The airport operator said fingerprinting was needed for border security. Instead it will take photographs while the proposal is discussed with the commissioner's office.
Environmental protestsEnvironmental protests
While BAA says the opening of Terminal 5 will not see any more flights operating to and from Heathrow, environmental groups are not convinced. BAA says the opening of Terminal 5 will not see any more flights operating to and from Heathrow but environmental groups say more noise, pollution and stress will result.
John Stewart, from anti-expansion group Hacan ClearSkies, said: "The real reason it [Terminal 5] was built was to provide the terminal capacity to allow more flights on the existing runways, which will mean more noise, more pollution and more stress for those living under the flight paths." BA says the new terminal will not solve runway capacity problems.
Willie Walsh, writing in the airline's staff newspaper, also admitted that Terminal 5 would not "solve our problems". Among the protesters at the airport were Hazel, 71, and Jock Cooper, 72, who have lived in Old Windsor - under the flight path - for 45 years.
"There continue to be problems at Heathrow with a lack of runway capacity and T5 will do nothing to sort this out," he said. "It's a stupid idea to sign an agreement in Bali saying we want to save the planet and then we read there was going to be a third runway," said Mrs Cooper.
Once BA has completed its terminal changes, BAA plans to start moving other carriers to Terminals 1, 3 and 4, where they will be grouped according to airline alliances. "The area, skies and planet won't take it."
Once BA has completed the move to T5, BAA plans to start moving other carriers to Terminals 1, 3 and 4.
Terminal 2 will then be demolished, to pave the way for a new facility - Heathrow East - which BAA hopes will be ready in time for the London Olympics in 2012.Terminal 2 will then be demolished, to pave the way for a new facility - Heathrow East - which BAA hopes will be ready in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
Have you been through terminal 5 today? What was it like? Do you work there? Tell us about the new terminal at Heathrow airport.Have you been through terminal 5 today? What was it like? Do you work there? Tell us about the new terminal at Heathrow airport.
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