Heathrow crisis: T5 baggage system 'working' claims BAA

A backlog of 15,000 bags built up over the weekend at Heathrow's new Terminal 5, as BAA sought to play down any suggestions that the baggage handling system wasn't working effectively. The extensive backlog was the result of problems in the system which had not come to light during testing.

Although the problems with the system meant that hundreds of volunteers had to be drafted in to manually process bags, BA chief executive Willie Walsh claimed that the baggage handling system is now 'generally working well'.

It is understood that a team of engineers and IT specialists from BA and BAA are addressing the ongoing problem with the baggage handling system.