Heathrow Airport has been plunged into “bedlam” just as summer holiday season kicks off – with the apparent breakage of the transport hub’s luggage check-in system. Passengers travelling from Terminal Five have taken to Twitter to cite the “chaos” ensuing at the UK’s busiest airport as the most popular season for flights begins. It has sparked huge queues at baggage drop off for airline British Airways, with the airport confirming a “fault” in BA’s baggage processing facilities yet inisisting it has now been resolved. One passenger detailed the drama and wrote on Twitter: “Chaos at Heathrow Terminal 5. Entire bag system has been down for more than hour.
“No one can drop their luggage. Great start to a holiday, not.
“Thanks British Airways! You deserve those £2+ billion profits!
One angry traveller wrote on twitter: “Absolute bedlam with @British_Airways at Heathrow.
“Baggage machines down, hour long queues everywhere and they aren’t communicating anything other than saying bags likely won’t make the trip.”
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British Airways, which operated from the terminal, replied to a concerned traveller and wrote: “Due to a baggage system issue, it’s taking us longer to accept baggage than we’d like.
“Our team at London Heathrow are approaching passengers and helping those who have imminent departures. We appreciate your patience whilst you wait.”
A spokesperson for Heathrow has since put on Twitter: “We are aware of the delay in Terminal 5 and are working to sort this. Thank you for your understanding.”
Meanwhile baffled passengers could only capture the scenes on their phones as they expressed fears they would not make their intended flights.
One uploaded a shot of the bags and put: “The baggage conveyor belts seem broken at #Heathrow #Terminal5. Never seen that before.”
Another quipped: “Baggage belts aren’t working at Heathrow. For everyone.
“Yet people still feel the need to go up and complain to see if they can get their bags sent off on some private belt that none of us know about.”
The drama comes just days before the first of a series of strikes set to cause havoc at the airport.
Yesterday, Express.co.uk reported how passengers had branded the action – in the heart of the summer holiday period – “disgusting”, while taking aim at union Unite.
Mass disruption is forecast from Friday, July 26, as 4,000 employees walk out at Heathrow.
The security guards, engineers and passenger service drivers, are planning to walk out on July 26 and 27.
This will be followed by further walkouts on August 5, 6, 23 and 24.
It is set to be a chaotic summer for British travellers, with strikes at London Stansted affecting easyJet flights also confirmed.
A Heathrow spokesperson told Express.co.uk today: “
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “The BA baggage processing system in Terminal 5 has experienced a fault this morning meaning bags are being processed slower than usual.
“Other terminals at Heathrow have been unaffected and we are supporting BA to resolve this issue as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience.”
Normal service at the airport was restored by 10.40am, according to Heathrow bosses.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “The BA baggage processing system in Terminal 5 has now been resolved following a fault this morning.
“We are working closely with BA to get check in running smoothly again and apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.”