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| Airline tackles luggage mountain | Airline tackles luggage mountain |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of items of unclaimed luggage are piled up at Heathrow Airport because of faulty equipment and poor weather, British Airways (BA) has said. | Thousands of items of unclaimed luggage are piled up at Heathrow Airport because of faulty equipment and poor weather, British Airways (BA) has said. |
| Problems began before Christmas when a faulty baggage belt at Terminal Four and cancellations caused by fog stopped 10,000 bags from being delivered. | Problems began before Christmas when a faulty baggage belt at Terminal Four and cancellations caused by fog stopped 10,000 bags from being delivered. |
| BA said many were still stacked up at Terminals One and Four and it was using freighter planes to clear the backlog. | BA said many were still stacked up at Terminals One and Four and it was using freighter planes to clear the backlog. |
| The airline said about half of the bags belonged to its passengers. | The airline said about half of the bags belonged to its passengers. |
| Second belt problem | Second belt problem |
| A spokesman explained the problem began with a faulty baggage belt at Heathrow's Terminal Four. | A spokesman explained the problem began with a faulty baggage belt at Heathrow's Terminal Four. |
| "That caused the initial backlog and about 8,000 bags were not delivered," he said. | "That caused the initial backlog and about 8,000 bags were not delivered," he said. |
| A second problem with the baggage belt on 29 December and the fog led to about 10,000 bags not being delivered. | A second problem with the baggage belt on 29 December and the fog led to about 10,000 bags not being delivered. |
| "We have put on air freighter planes to get the bags to their owners, and we have drafted in a number of volunteers to help," he said. | "We have put on air freighter planes to get the bags to their owners, and we have drafted in a number of volunteers to help," he said. |
| No attempt was being made to do anything about the situation Colin Barber Passenger fears Heathrow baggage 'chaos' | No attempt was being made to do anything about the situation Colin Barber Passenger fears Heathrow baggage 'chaos' |
| The spokesman added that the problems coincided with the introduction of new working practices for baggage handlers at Terminal One and Four. | The spokesman added that the problems coincided with the introduction of new working practices for baggage handlers at Terminal One and Four. |
| A spokeswoman from the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) said: "There's an ongoing pressure on staff which can be exacerbated by technical issues or circumstances beyond their control." | |
| It comes as the airline prepares to move its entire Heathrow operation to the new Terminal Five in March 2008. | It comes as the airline prepares to move its entire Heathrow operation to the new Terminal Five in March 2008. |
| Hundreds of Heathrow flights were cancelled and delayed in the week before Christmas due to the fog. | Hundreds of Heathrow flights were cancelled and delayed in the week before Christmas due to the fog. |
| Awaiting collection | Awaiting collection |
| At the height of the chaos, thousands of passengers were forced to wait for news of flights in temporary marquees outside Heathrow in freezing temperatures. | At the height of the chaos, thousands of passengers were forced to wait for news of flights in temporary marquees outside Heathrow in freezing temperatures. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The only time that my luggage has ever been lost was when flying to Heathrow K B Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The only time that my luggage has ever been lost was when flying to Heathrow K B Send us your comments |
| Passenger Colin Barber wrote to the BBC News website with concerns about the piles of unattended lost luggage at the airport. | Passenger Colin Barber wrote to the BBC News website with concerns about the piles of unattended lost luggage at the airport. |
| After questioning staff about the bags he said: "No attempt was being made to do anything about the situation." | After questioning staff about the bags he said: "No attempt was being made to do anything about the situation." |
| BA said the bags, which belonged to passengers from a number of airlines, were being monitored by staff as they awaited collection by customers or courier companies. | BA said the bags, which belonged to passengers from a number of airlines, were being monitored by staff as they awaited collection by customers or courier companies. |
| In a statement the firm said it hoped to reunite passengers with their luggage within 48 hours. | In a statement the firm said it hoped to reunite passengers with their luggage within 48 hours. |
| If you have any story ideas - send them to the BBC using the link below and have your say! | If you have any story ideas - send them to the BBC using the link below and have your say! |
| Click here to send us your stories | Click here to send us your stories |