Even airport workers get the parking blues :: 21/04/2008 :: Airport Parking News

Staff at T5 are having as much trouble parking as passengers

Heathrow’s Terminal 5 has brought problems to thousands of members of the travelling public but many will be surprised to learn that the problems with opening the new terminal have affected airport workers as well as travelers, particularly when it comes to parking.

On March 27th, British Airway’s new terminal building opened to the public and stranded thousands when over 600 flights were cancelled. The airline is still scrambling to reunite passengers with their lost luggage but problems have cropped up at T5 for staff members also.

Travelers can book their parking spots in advance online. Technology in the lots makes it easy for travelers to locate empty stalls and proceed quickly from parking to terminal building. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case for staff members at the airport.

According to BA’s CEO, Willie Walsh, staff parking was just one of a number of “simple and silly things” that made opening T5 a debacle.

One baggage handler working at the terminal said that he was delayed from reaching his work station for two and a half hours because of problems with parking and delays getting through security.