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BA anger over Bush's Heathrow disruption
Anna Davis, Evening Standard24.06.08
The head of British Airways has hit out at Heathrow owners BAA after they allowed George Bush to land at the airport and delay thousands of passengers.
Chief executive Willie Walsh said he was "angry" after the cancellation of at least 69 flights and the disruption to 40,000 travellers.
He said: "The decision to allow President Bush and his fleet of aircraft to fly into Heathrow rather than a military base was one all of Heathrow's users could have done without."
Mr Walsh said the disruption lasted for four days as the airport rehearsed for Mr Bush's arrival and then closed a runway for his real arrival and departure on 15 and 16 June. Departing flights were banned on two separate-occasions on 15 June, leading to six-hour delays for passengers, Mr Walsh said. BA cancelled 53 flights and other airlines cancelled 16, and there were delays to 260 more.
A BAA spokesman said Heathrow was the best place for Mr Bush and his entourage to arrive because they were visiting Windsor Castle and because the airport has good security.
He said: "BAA airlines and other business partners at Heathrow did everything in their power to minimise disruption at the airport during George Bush's presidential visit.
"Despite our best efforts, some disruption did occur, for which we apologise to passengers affected."
Reader views (5)
I was on a BA flight on 16 June to Los Angeles, and it was delayed for two hours on the tarmac. I was rather miffed to hear we were being delayed because President Bush and his motorcade were skipping about Heathrow. BAA have messed up again.
Here's to hoping my return landing isn't blighted by another BAA mishap.
- Rene, Los Angeles, USA
That was good for a laugh. Are you not trying to run one of the world's busiest airports on TWO runways, when many have 4 or five? Are you not behaving like spoiled children when it comes to the construction of a 3rd? Have you forgotten BA's wonderful performance in initiating service from the new terminal. (Perhaps Naomi, while in the wrong, has a point?) Are you not so busy making sure everything in England is green that the country is running in the red? Do you not blame the American President for absolutely everything and bear no responsibility for yourselves? Just asking...
- Brendan, New York
..... Despite our best efforts, some disruption did occur.
What an appalling and disingenuous remark by the BAA spokesperson.
It was obvious to anyone with any intellect and common-sense, that closing a runway would cause immediate disruption to all those scheduled flights (and associated passengers).
Their best efforts would have served the public better by refusing to allow Bush et al to land at LHR.
- Howard, Potters Bar
It seems to me that BAA, not BA, is the real culprit for perennial delays at Heathrow.
- Anil, London, United Kingdom
President Bush should have been made to land at Brize Norton, preferably when our brave war dead were being brought back. But on second thoughts it would be lost on him.
- David, Peterborough UK
