CHAOS AT HEATHROW’S NEW TERMINAL 5

1. What does BAA mean?

It means British Airport Authority.
2. What does ‘cutting edge’ mean?
It means innovative and modern.
3. What facilities does the new terminal include?
New aircrafts stands, a large car park, new underground
connections.
4. Why would checking- in for flights be simplified at the new
Terminal?
Because they would provide with on line checking -systems, fast
baggage dropping facilities, sophisticated baggage handling.
5. What happened two weeks after the new terminal was officially
opened?
Many flights had to be cancelled because of a breakdown in the
baggage handling system.
6. What were the consequences?
Many passengers were left stranded at the airport as there was a
backlog (= an accumulation) of baggage.
7. Why was check-in suspended in the afternoon?
Because the staff continued to add luggage creating a backlog.
8. What happened to the terminal’s three stage processing system?
It was stuck. It didn’t work as they expected.
9. How did BA justify what happened?
They said that had foreseen the problems that happened and that
they were working to sort them out.
10) What are the main logistics problems mentioned in the article?
The handling of baggage did not work as it was expected to do.