Heathrow's Huge Hangar!

Heathrow Airport finally got round to the official opening of the new Terminal 5 yesterday. This futuristic building has so much on offer that apparently passsengers will get through all the checks and security in 10 minutes. According to Ann Macmillan, the resident Canadian Broadcasting reporter in London, this vast open span "village" can get 35 million through in a year! "That's the population of Canada!" she quipped to the BBC. I had visions of a mixed bag of mounties, fur trappers, Inuit, and lumberjacks all trying to pass through. A touch of the Monty Pythons?

I do recognise this as a major step forward for the UK' air transport industry. It's only a pity that the management of BAA and British Airways always seem to have problems popping up. The latest is that BA pilots are are planning to march on BA's Heathrow headquarters, in protest at plans to use non-BA pilots in a new subsidiary. Kind of takes the gloss off it all. I'm not about to poo-poo this achievement, but basking in the reflected glory of the Queen opening the new terminal could well be a false move if other problems are not solved, or attempted to be solved. No good having a superdooper terminal if the pilots aren't in the planes!

This new terminal is for the exclusive use of BA passengers, so no stragglers from other carriers will be there, unless they've taken time out to have a sneak look. We are assured that these passengers will be afforded just as good a service in the other terminals because the BA lot will have gone. But they will still be using the old equipment, such as the check-in desks and security screening. We will have to see how it all pans out.

Yesterday, though, was Willie Walsh's day! Having the Queen to your big do must have been a thrill. Let's hope his high will carry through to his discussions with the pilots.

Posted in: BAA,British Airways,Heathrow Airport,Terminal 5