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September 5, 2008 8:47:25 PM CDT

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Heathrow Fiasco a 'National Embarrassment'

Posted Apr 1, 08 7:42 AM CDT in Business,  World 

(Newser) – The chaos is continuing at Heathrow's brand-new Terminal 5, with one British politician slamming the fiasco as a "national embarrassment," the Daily Telegraph reports. More than 50 flights were canceled yesterday and British Airways admitted that the mountain of stranded baggage contained as many as 28,000 bags, well above the earlier estimate of 15,000.

The nation may have suffered a dent to its prestige but its flagship carrier has taken a major blow to its bottom line—which the New York Times estimates at almost $50 million—and a hit in consumer confidence just as the "open skies" agreement between Europe and the US kicks in, allowing new competition for BA in transcontinental flights.

Sources Daily Telegraph (UK), New York Times

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Flight cancellations are continuing at Heathrow's Terminal 5, causing politicians to brand the fiasco a national embarassment.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
Two men take some rest as they wait in the departures area at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport in London.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
More than 50 British Airways flights were canceled yesterday amid continues chaos at Heathrow's newly-opened Terminal 5.   (Getty Images)
Passengers queue at Check-In counters in the departures lounge...   (Getty Images)
Passengers wait to check in, at the departure lounge of the new Terminal 5 building at Heathrow Airport, west London, Thursday, March 27, 2008. The new terminal, which opened to passengers Thursday,...   (AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
Youngsters take some rest as they wait in the departures area at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday March 28, 2008. The new building, praised as a solution to Heathrow's chronic congestion,...   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People wait in the arrival lounge of the new Terminal 5 building at Heathrow Airport in west London, Thursday, March 27, 2008. The new terminal, which opened to passengers Thursday, is designed to handle...   (AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
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Inside Heathrow's Terminal 5   (b69712 (YouTube))

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United Kingdom  • airline  • airport  • airline delays  • aviation  • British Airways  • Heathrow Airport  • Terminal 5  • lost baggage


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