14 April 2008

Global impact of T5 chaos may be short term

Dire predictions about how global reporting on the chaos surrounding the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 will harm UK plc, British tourism and British Airways (BA) appear to be premature, a new poll shows.

More than half of travellers (52%) said the problems would have no impact on whether or not they use Heathrow airport or T5 in the future.

But 20% said that they are now less likely to use Heathrow and 14% said that they would still use Heathrow but avoid T5.

Thirty per cent of respondents to the TripAdvisor poll of 1,220 people said they thought it was teething problems and that the airport would soon be operating normally.  

Eighteen per cent said it was just another ââ¬ÅâœHeathrow horrorââ¬~ while 15% suggested it was a national disgrace.

Fifty-one per cent of travellers said that the T5 problems had no impact on their opinion about the airport. The rest said that it either confirmed its reputation as one of the worst airports (23%) or that their opinion about Heathrow had got worse (26%).

Only 13% said they thought British Airways was to blame for the debacle, despite is being the sole airline using the Ã&#pound;4.3 billion new terminal.

Thirty-eight per cent blamed Heathrow owner BAA and 19% said that T5ââ¬â¢s designers were to blame.

More than half (53%) said the issue had not affected their perception of BA and 28% said that while perceptions were tarnished they would still fly with the airline.

An overwhelming three quarters said that the T5 problems will have no impact on their thoughts about visiting the UK.

Only four per cent thought there was any long lasting damage to the UKââ¬â¢s reputation and 45% said ââ¬Åâœno, itââ¬â¢s only an airport terminalââ¬~.

A TripAdvisor spokesman said: ââ¬ÅâœThis survey shows that the worldââ¬â¢s travellers are a hardy and forgiving lot.

ââ¬ÅâœThis is not the first time that there have been problems with a new airport facility and itââ¬â¢s unlikely to be the last.

ââ¬ÅâœWhilst those responsible have been pilloried at home, not least for failing to deliver on their promises, there is still a lot of credit in the bank for Britain, BA and even some for Heathrow.ââ¬~ 

by Phil Davies

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• Bad to worse not possible
  
  

  My perception of BA isn't affected by the T5 debacle - BA has been an airline to avoid where possible for years; T5 couldn't make them any worse.

  By Michael Blandy, Monday, April 14, 2008