Skip to content
Wednesday 2 September 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE · FR
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,789.28
-0.32%
DAX
25,970.11
-1.10%
CAC 40
8,301.85
0.00%
STOXX 50
6,368.98
-0.80%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceEU InstitutionsCompetitionPublic AffairsBankingTechnologyEnergy
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Thursday 18 July 2019 10:54 am  |  Updated:  Thursday 18 July 2019 11:35 am

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 delays hit British Airways passengers

By: Joe Curtis

Add as a preferred source on Google
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 28: People queue with their luggage outside Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 on May 28, 2017 in London, England. Thousands of passengers face a second day of travel disruption after a British Airways IT failure caused the airline to cancel most of its services. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Heathrow Airport passengers face major disruption this morning as a baggage system issue has caused hours of delays.

Passengers including comedian Eddie Izzard were left to queue for up to two hours to drop bags at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 this morning, leading to reports of missed flights.

Reports suggested the luggage belt system had failed.

Izzard said: “Luggage belts down at Heathrow Terminal 5. I hope BA can get this moving soon as passengers have been waiting a long time now.”

Luggage belts down at Heathrow Terminal 5. I hope BA can get this moving soon as passengers have been waiting a long time now pic.twitter.com/TJjAe2x02T

— Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) July 18, 2019

Heathrow Airport told Morning Wire that British Airways’ system was to blame, rather than the airport’s.

“We are working hard to minimise disruption after a baggage system issue has slowed down customers dropping off their bags,” a British Airways spokesperson said in a statement.

“We apologise for the inconvenience to our customers.”

Morning Wire understands BA was forced to switch to a manual process while its automatic baggage system broke down.

Meanwhile passengers were left to queue in the departure hall as travellers waited for staff to manually check their baggage.

فوضى في مطار هيثرو بالعاصمة البريطانية #لندن إثر انهيار أنظمة شحن الأمتعة.. والمئات يتخلفون عن رحلاتهم#إرم_نيوز #heathrow #heathrowairport pic.twitter.com/1A0Z8RmZg4

— Erem News – إرم نيوز (@EremNews) July 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/BraddersV8/status/1151743296991039490

Around 10.50am, a Heathrow spokesperson said BA had rectified the baggage system fault.

“The BA baggage processing system in Terminal 5 has now been resolved following a fault this morning,” they said.

“We are working closely with BA to get check in running smoothly again and apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.”

Read more

Heathrow overtaken by Istanbul as Europe’s busiest airport

Commercial airplane landing at Heathrow Airport, seen from behind, with a prominent Heathrow sign below.

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Transport & Infrastructure

Related Topics

  • London business

Trending Articles

  • Vodafone and Deliveroo look to patch up Reform ties after Yusuf prison threats

  • Jaguar reveals the Type 01’s screen-free interior

  • Trio of firms poised to quit London Stock Exchange as exodus gathers pace

  • Easyjet’s over-60s recruitment push is economically necessary

  • FCA ‘worked backwards’ to justify motor finance redress, say lenders

More from Morning Wire

  • Heathrow overtaken by Istanbul as Europe’s busiest airport

    Transport & Infrastructure
    Commercial airplane landing at Heathrow Airport, seen from behind, with a prominent Heathrow sign below.
  • Freenow by Lyft is enhancing the taxi experience with unique tech innovations

    Partner
    Hand holding a smartphone displaying the FreeNow by Lyft app, with a smiling driver in a car background
  • Gatwick takes ‘significant’ passenger hit from Iran war

    Transport & Infrastructure
    Gatwick Airport terminal bustling with travelers and staff under bright signage and flight information displays
  • Ofgem warns on grid squeeze after Heathrow data centre approved

    Tech
    Sir Keir Starmer's government has prioritised investment data centres as a major pillar of its plans to boost economic growth.
  • Gatwick expansion green-lit as court throws out activists’ appeal

    Transport & Infrastructure
    20m passengers have flown through Gatwick this year
  • Strzala Architects and Corgan to Support Major Capital Investment Programmes for UK’s Manchester Airports Group

    Business Wire
  • Luton Airport expansion set for take-off after environmental challenge dismissed

    Transport & Infrastructure
    Luton Airport aerial view with planes, runways, and terminal buildings, highlighting busy travel hub operations
  • Apollo snaps up Easyjet after Castlelake walks away

    Aviation
    EasyJet airplane at airport terminal with passengers boarding, representing airline industry and travel news updates
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe

Business

  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Competition
  • Public Affairs

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook