British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said Monday that he was "bitterly disappointed" about the problems at London Heathrow's Terminal 5, and admitted "we got it completely wrong on day one."
Some 54 flights were canceled today and 50 more are likely to be canceled on Tuesday.
Walsh also said that reports that 28,000 passengers bags were in storage were wrong - it was only 19,000 (although it appears that a total of 28,000 bags may have not traveled with their owners). BA brought in 400 volunteers to start working to reduce the luggage backlog.
It will take a while longer for the software problems affecting the new baggage system to be fully explained. There is a lot of conflicting information out there. Walsh has said that, "We continue to work towards increasing the number of services in the days ahead. The baggage system is now generally working well. From time to time, problems have developed that were not encountered during the extensive trials. These issues are being addressed as they arise," by computer and baggage system experts.
BAA, the airport operator, seems to be backing off the claim that the baggage system problems were caused by inexperienced baggage staff alone.
There were other software problems at Terminal 5. A patron was charged £361,514.97 for four cappuccinos at the Giraffe Juice Bar at Terminal 5. Airport food is expensive, but that is a bit much.
