14 April 2008

Bmi attacks Heathrow terminal move delay

BAAÃ¢â¬â¢s decision to delay a series of terminal moves due to the problematic opening of Terminal 5 has been condemned by Bmi.

The carrier said more than 50 airlines would be affected by the decision to delay the shift of the bulk of British Airways flights from Terminal 4 to T5.

BMI chief executive Nigel Turner said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt is an absolutely outrageous announcement by BAA and done with no thought, consideration or consultation of any other airline other than BA.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe sequence of moves affects over 50 airlines, including Bmi, at Heathrow. The programme and timescale of changes was agreed in joint consultation with all airlines that are now geared up to undertake the moves as agreed.Ã¢â¬~

He added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœBAA and BA have shown a total disregard for all other airlines and their passengers at Heathrow in coming to this decision because of their own shortcomings and their inability to implement an agreed plan.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœBA through their mismanagement of the move to Terminal 5 will materially disadvantage all other airlines at Heathrow whilst BAA, through their perverse regulatory system, will actually benefit financially. The UK is once again a laughing stock

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is yet another clear example of BAA treating airlines and passengers with contempt and no consideration whatsoever to a consultation process that took some considerable time to achieve an acceptable programme of terminal moves.Ã¢â¬~

*See previous TravelMole BA/BAA/T5 story.

by Phil Davies

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Your Comments (1)

Yes, but no.

I'm getting really tired of the "UK a laughing stock" comments. It's really lazy. BAA and British Airways are a laughing stock, I'm sure BMI wouldn't agree that they were too. Nor would passengers at St. Pancras International, which, like Terminal 5, opened on time and on budget. It's BAA and BA who have messed things up, not "the UK".

By W Shearer, Monday, April 14, 2008