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T5 baggage backlog sent to Milan T5 baggage backlog sent to Milan
(about 10 hours later)
Thousands of suitcases are being sent to Milan by British Airways from Heathrow Terminal 5 to try and help sort out the backlog of 19,000 bags. Thousands of suitcases are being sent to Milan by British Airways to try to help clear a backlog of 19,000 bags at Heathrow's new Terminal 5.
More than 400 volunteers are already working at the £4.3bn terminal to deal with the pile of baggage. BA said it would be quicker for some bags to be sorted by a Milan courier company and then driven to home or holiday addresses in mainland Europe.
Now some is being sent to a courier firm in Milan to be sorted and either driven or flown to owners. The new £4.3bn terminal has been plagued by problems and a mounting pile of luggage since opening last week.
BA said it was "quicker for bags with European mainland addresses to go to Milan for sorting". On Wednesday, 50 domestic and European flights were expected to be cancelled.
The new terminal has been plagued with problems - and a mounting pile of luggage - since it opened on 27 March. BA has said its priority is to reunite passengers with their luggage and more than 400 volunteer staff are working to deal with the backlog.
A BA spokesman said: "Delayed bags must undergo enhanced levels of security screening. It is quicker for bags with European mainland addresses to go to Milan for sorting and onward transport than waiting for space to appear on flights leaving Heathrow BA spokesman A spokesman for the airline estimated 10% of the bags would be returned to their owners more quickly if they were first sent to Milan.
The rest would be flown direct to their destinations on BA flights.
He explained if a person was on holiday in Paris for two weeks, BA would aim to reunite them with their bags at their hotel.
The use of the Italian courier firm was an additional measure and was not unusual, he said.
He added: "Delayed bags must undergo enhanced levels of security screening.
"Much of this process must be done manually rather than using the automated baggage systems."Much of this process must be done manually rather than using the automated baggage systems.
"Although the majority of delayed bags will be sorted and reflighted at Heathrow, we can reunite larger numbers of bags with their owners more quickly."Although the majority of delayed bags will be sorted and reflighted at Heathrow, we can reunite larger numbers of bags with their owners more quickly.
"It is quicker for bags with European mainland addresses to go to Milan for sorting and onward transport than waiting for space to appear on flights leaving Heathrow.""It is quicker for bags with European mainland addresses to go to Milan for sorting and onward transport than waiting for space to appear on flights leaving Heathrow."
She said it was standard practice for BA to use the Milan-based courier firm for dealing with such a backlog. British Airways has continued to cancel flights from T5. By Thursday it aims to have 92% of flights operating.
British Airways has continued to cancel flights from T5, although it says 92% will be in operation by Thursday.