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| Disruption at T5 enters third day | Disruption at T5 enters third day |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Passengers at Heathrow's new Terminal 5 face disruption for the third day running, with flight cancellations due to continue through the weekend. | Passengers at Heathrow's new Terminal 5 face disruption for the third day running, with flight cancellations due to continue through the weekend. |
| British Airways said it expects another 54 short-haul flights will be cancelled on Saturday, followed by 37 on Sunday. | |
| More than 100 flights at the new £4.3bn terminal were called off on Thursday and Friday because of earlier glitches with the baggage-handling systems. | More than 100 flights at the new £4.3bn terminal were called off on Thursday and Friday because of earlier glitches with the baggage-handling systems. |
| An airline spokeswoman said the situation was "improving steadily". | An airline spokeswoman said the situation was "improving steadily". |
| She said all long-haul services departing from the terminal on Saturday would go ahead as planned and advised customers to check on www.ba.com for a full list of flight cancellations. | She said all long-haul services departing from the terminal on Saturday would go ahead as planned and advised customers to check on www.ba.com for a full list of flight cancellations. |
| "The airline will continue to closely monitor the situation as it works towards restoring a full operation as soon as possible," she added. | "The airline will continue to closely monitor the situation as it works towards restoring a full operation as soon as possible," she added. |
| 'Disrupted journeys' | 'Disrupted journeys' |
| Passengers on cancelled services will be able to rebook or apply for a refund. | Passengers on cancelled services will be able to rebook or apply for a refund. |
| T5 LATEST 54 short-haul flights cancelled on Saturday | |
| Cancelled flights, a temporary suspension in luggage check-in and baggage delays blighted the opening day of T5 on Thursday, leaving many passengers stranded overnight. | Cancelled flights, a temporary suspension in luggage check-in and baggage delays blighted the opening day of T5 on Thursday, leaving many passengers stranded overnight. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh said he accepted the chaos "was not our finest hour". | BA chief executive Willie Walsh said he accepted the chaos "was not our finest hour". |
| One baggage handler said it was "a shambles the moment the doors opened". | One baggage handler said it was "a shambles the moment the doors opened". |
| He told the BBC: "BA claimed 'staff familiarisation' was to blame. The staff, however, would blame the lack of training and the essential support that was promised." | He told the BBC: "BA claimed 'staff familiarisation' was to blame. The staff, however, would blame the lack of training and the essential support that was promised." |
| Other sources have told the BBC low morale among staff was also a factor. | Other sources have told the BBC low morale among staff was also a factor. |
| Airport operator BAA and BA, which has sole use of T5, said they were working hard to resolve baggage issues. | Airport operator BAA and BA, which has sole use of T5, said they were working hard to resolve baggage issues. |
| Mr Walsh said that following the initial problems terminal staff, supported by about 450 volunteers, had been "working really hard to look after our customers and offer them the world-class experience that we know Terminal 5 can deliver". | Mr Walsh said that following the initial problems terminal staff, supported by about 450 volunteers, had been "working really hard to look after our customers and offer them the world-class experience that we know Terminal 5 can deliver". |
| "I'd again like to apologise to those customers who have suffered disrupted journeys or baggage delays," he added. | "I'd again like to apologise to those customers who have suffered disrupted journeys or baggage delays," he added. |
| The airline blamed a combination of "teething problems" for the chaos. | The airline blamed a combination of "teething problems" for the chaos. |
| Staff car parking problems, delays in getting workers screened as well as poor staff familiarisation meant many were late to their posts, BA said. | Staff car parking problems, delays in getting workers screened as well as poor staff familiarisation meant many were late to their posts, BA said. |
| They didn't know where to go, what bags to get Ed BlissettGMB union Send us your comments | They didn't know where to go, what bags to get Ed BlissettGMB union Send us your comments |
| This resulted in a backlog of baggage which clogged up the underground conveyor system and meant delays and flight cancellations throughout Thursday and Friday. | This resulted in a backlog of baggage which clogged up the underground conveyor system and meant delays and flight cancellations throughout Thursday and Friday. |
| The company said that the backlog had been reduced from its peak of 5,000 items of luggage to 2,000 on Friday evening. | The company said that the backlog had been reduced from its peak of 5,000 items of luggage to 2,000 on Friday evening. |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said that practice runs of T5's baggage handling systems involved hundreds of staff, rather than the thousands who were involved on day one. | BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said that practice runs of T5's baggage handling systems involved hundreds of staff, rather than the thousands who were involved on day one. |
| Ed Blissett from the GMB union said that workers had not been familiarised with the new terminal. | Ed Blissett from the GMB union said that workers had not been familiarised with the new terminal. |
| "They didn't know where to go, what bags to get, and that caused a problem - as well as the system breaking down," he said. | "They didn't know where to go, what bags to get, and that caused a problem - as well as the system breaking down," he said. |
| A BAA spokesman said it was "focusing all our efforts on our work with British Airways to resolve baggage issues and to deliver a good service to passengers". | A BAA spokesman said it was "focusing all our efforts on our work with British Airways to resolve baggage issues and to deliver a good service to passengers". |
| BA has set up an information line for T5 passengers: 0800 727800 | BA has set up an information line for T5 passengers: 0800 727800 |
| 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. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |