Chaos at Heathrow after British Airways IT failure causes delays
Heathrow Airport is in chaos after an IT allocation failure in British Airways‘ systems left passengers stranded on planes and facing hours of delays collecting their luggage.
The UK’s busiest airport revealed passengers travelling from Terminal 5 ‘may be impacted’ by the failure in BA’s Allocation systems, adding that no other airline has been affected.
Video from the Terminal tonight shows massive queues of stricken travellers forming across the airport, as passengers struggle to correctly find their luggage.
Footage from inside the transport hub shows enormous queues forming outside BA’s baggage claim area in the terminal, as well as the customer assistance desk in the arrivals’ area.
Earlier tonight, British Airways sent a text to affected passengers that read: ‘We’re sorry to inform you that, due to a technical issue with our baggage allocation system at Heathrow, we can’t guarantee that your bags will have travelled with you on your flight today.’
The UK’s most popular airport said tonight on X that passengers travelling from Terminal 5 ‘may be impacted’ by the failure in BA’s Allocation systems
Video from the Terminal taken tonight shows massive queues forming across the airport, as passengers struggle to correctly find their luggage
The airline added that it had sent out emails with further information to passengers.
Heathrow has added that it is supporting the airline with their technical issue. They are advising passengers to check with BA before travelling to the airport.
They said that passengers in their flagship Terminal 5 may be impacted by the faults.
Despite Heathrow’s claims that no other airline has been affected by BA’s IT failure, analysis of FlightRadar data shows that almost all the flights that departed from Heathrow this evening were delayed significantly, with many being cancelled outright.
Just 11 out of the 174 flights that were due to leave the airport since 6pm tonight left on time, data showed.
Passengers were furious with the delay. One took to X to say: ‘Shambles at Heathrow Airport, no bags arriving. No info just told to go home. but need the bag for a wedding tomorrow and you’re telling me 48 hours for by bag!!! NO INFO’
Another social media user called the situation ‘disgraceful.’
Phil Beck added that he had been waiting for his flight for more than four hours.
He said: ‘8pm flight from Aberdeen to LHR tonight. It’s now past midnight. I’m waiting for bags at Heathrow that may never come. Third world airline in a third world country.’
Another passenger begged BA: ‘Can you please get my and hundreds of other passengers’ bags delivered to us in Nice from London Heathrow? Why did absolutely no bags make it onto our flight?’
A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting British Airways with a technical issue with their Allocation System.
‘We advise passengers to check with BA before travelling to the airport. BA passengers in Terminals 5 may be impacted, and are advised to contact BA for assistance.
‘No other airline is impacted.’
MailOnline has contacted British Airways for comment.
The severe delays come just a day after a ground vehicle caught on fire by a BA place parked at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
