One in eight BA flights leaves Heathrow on time

Last updated at 12:02 26 September 2006


Just one in eight British Airways flights from Heathrow’s Terminal 1 took off on time, figures published today show.

The timings of departures for the week ending 17 September show 12 per cent of flights were on schedule — compared to the company’s target of 50 per cent.

A total of 18 per cent of longhaul flights from Terminal 4 were on time. At Gatwick one in five flights left on schedule and at other UK airports BA managed fewer than one in three, 31 per cent,

on time.

The plunge in punctuality follows last month’s security alert over the alleged plot to blow up

US-bound passenger jets.

The extra measures, which for a short while banned all hand luggage from being taken on

board, also had serious repercussions around the world for all airlines, throwing flight schedules

into disarray.

BA had to cancel 1,300 departures across the UK with more than 1,000 of those from Heathrow. The company estimates the hugely-increased security has cost it £40 million.

Although the restrictions have been slightly relaxed, additional security and longer queues are here for the forseeable future.

Passengers are being warned that they must not turn up late and that check-in will close

exactly on time.

A BA spokeswoman also blamed severe weather conditions and aircraft congestion on the runways at Heathrow for adding to the problems.

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