T5 a complete shambles, but Flashmob a success.
mini mouse | 27.03.2008 20:46 | Climate Chaos | London
Heathrow's Terminal 5 opened today with a great fanfair. By mid afternoon the much vaunted, computerised, luggage system was shut down and dozens of flights cancelled.
However the 11am Flashmob went ahead without a hitch.
However the 11am Flashmob went ahead without a hitch.
Stop
Now
10.59, and the International Arrivals area was a predictable dull grey.
11.00, and it turned red, as hundreds of activists stripped off their outer layers to reveal their 'Stop Airport Expansion' T-shirts.
We'd all taken cameras, expecting to crack of a couple of shots and run to the bogs to hide the memory cards but - no need!. The balcony above was packed shoulder to shoulder with photographers and film crews, all ignoring the meedja ops provided by BAA in favour of covering the Flashmob.
Later coverage was disappointing (dunno about tomorrows papers) but because even better news was emerging that the T5 opening had turned out to be a complete fuck up. After promising to the flying world that Heathrow's problems were licked, the place ground to a miserable halt within hours.
Amongst others, www.news.bbc.co.uk writes:
"The suspension of luggage check-in was just the latest problem to hit passengers hoping to leave T5 on its opening day.
BA earlier announced "initial teething problems" with car parking provision, delays in staff security screening and staff familiarisation had resulted in a backlog of baggage. "
Very good news indeed for everyone except BA and BAA. Now all we have to wait for is for BAA and its parent company Ferrovial to go bust, widely expected to happen less than a year from now, see:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3ca6b20a-fad7-11dc-aa46-000077b07658.html
11.00, and it turned red, as hundreds of activists stripped off their outer layers to reveal their 'Stop Airport Expansion' T-shirts.
We'd all taken cameras, expecting to crack of a couple of shots and run to the bogs to hide the memory cards but - no need!. The balcony above was packed shoulder to shoulder with photographers and film crews, all ignoring the meedja ops provided by BAA in favour of covering the Flashmob.
Later coverage was disappointing (dunno about tomorrows papers) but because even better news was emerging that the T5 opening had turned out to be a complete fuck up. After promising to the flying world that Heathrow's problems were licked, the place ground to a miserable halt within hours.
Amongst others, www.news.bbc.co.uk writes:
"The suspension of luggage check-in was just the latest problem to hit passengers hoping to leave T5 on its opening day.
BA earlier announced "initial teething problems" with car parking provision, delays in staff security screening and staff familiarisation had resulted in a backlog of baggage. "
Very good news indeed for everyone except BA and BAA. Now all we have to wait for is for BAA and its parent company Ferrovial to go bust, widely expected to happen less than a year from now, see:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3ca6b20a-fad7-11dc-aa46-000077b07658.html
mini mouse
Additions
The public...
28.03.2008 13:05
The crazy thing is, there were hardly any public there. During the time I was in International Arrivals the gates hardly opened, unlike the constant stream of people you normally see in an airport terminal. They were probably all stuck in baggage reclaim.
As for the protestors, it was a very wide spectrum. Quite a lot of familiar faces but and awful lot more new ones.
All age ranges - it was amusing coming in on the tube spotting the likely suspects, generally people looking out of place in roll neck sweaters or scarves to hide the tops of the T-shirts.
Overall a good effort and a first toe in the water for direct action for many of them. They were buzzing on the train out and I guess we might see a good proportion on slightly less fluffy things in the future.
As for the protestors, it was a very wide spectrum. Quite a lot of familiar faces but and awful lot more new ones.
All age ranges - it was amusing coming in on the tube spotting the likely suspects, generally people looking out of place in roll neck sweaters or scarves to hide the tops of the T-shirts.
Overall a good effort and a first toe in the water for direct action for many of them. They were buzzing on the train out and I guess we might see a good proportion on slightly less fluffy things in the future.
mini mouse
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