Chaos at Heathrow as BA Staff Walk out

21/07/2003| IslamWeb

Europe's largest airline British Airways has cancelled yet more flights today after check-in staff at London's Heathrow Airport staged a surprise strike. More than 10,000 passengers were left stranded at Terminal One, from where most of BA's domestic and European flights depart. The industrial action followed a wildcat walkout on Friday evening by 250 ticketing and baggage handling staff in protest at a new clocking-on system that they fear could lead to bosses sending them home during quiet periods. "There's not even any BA staff here to tell us what's going on. They should have at least got a representative to say 'You know what, your flight's cancelled, don't come here', or 'go home'. No-one, not even the information desk," fumed one of many irate travellers trapped at Europe's busiest airport. "We were given a telephone number to ring but you couldn't get through. It took about six hours to get through," added another passenger, refering to a helpline that has been jammed since the number was distributed to travellers desperate for information. Many people slept on the floor of the terminal overnight as a result of the chaos. **PHOTO CAPTION*** British Airways cancelled all its domestic and European flights out of London's Heathrow Airport leaving before mid-afternoon, following a walkout by staff that left thousands of vacationers stranded at the height of the summer holiday period. (AFP/File)