Increased security restrictions at UK airports have left British Airways (BA) with a backlog of 5,000 items of passenger baggage to clear at London Heathrow.
BA says the “unprecedented volumes of bags” that have been checked in as a result of the recent UK government restrictions on hand baggage have led to a build up of 5,000 bags, which are “waiting to be reunited with their owners”.
The carrier is adopting a number of methods to clear to the backlog, including the use of articulated trucks and freighter aircraft to return the items to passengers.
Severe restrictions on hand baggage were implemented on 10 August after UK authorities thwarted an alleged plot to destroy transatlantic aircraft. Restrictions have since been relaxed, although passengers are still limited to carrying just one small item of baggage into aircraft cabins.
The carrier is not expecting its services to be fully restored until 18 August after opting to scrap nearly 20 short-haul flights from London Heathrow tomorrow. The flag-carrier plans to operate 90% of its flights today. It has cancelled three long-haul and 32 short-haul services at Heathrow, plus 11 domestic flights from London Gatwick.
But it aims to resume a full long-haul schedule from Heathrow tomorrow, although 19 short-haul services will be cancelled. All Gatwick services will operate.
BA intends to return to a complete schedule on 18 August, after suffering eight days of disruption as a result of the heightened security measures imposed on UK airports.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
