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Editor's Blog: Signs of terminal decline at T5?
Don't read too much into the problems at Heathrow...

By Steve Ranger

Published: Wednesday 16 April 2008

It's a small claim to fame, I know, but I was one of the passengers who flew from the newly opened Heathrow Terminal 5 last week - and my luggage even came with me.

Online check-in worked fine, as did the fast bag drop. Security was tortuously slow which meant less time in duty-free or splashing out in the fancy restaurants. That, of course, was good news for my wallet.

My overall verdict - it's a fine airport terminal, although I'm hardly the world's biggest fan of the departure lounge. I don't have a top five favourites, honest.

All the tech at Heathrow T5…

Video: Heathrow T5's cutting-edge baggage tech

Video: Heathrow Terminal 5 uncovered

Photos: Passenger's eye view of Heathrow Terminal 5

Photos: Inside Heathrow's Terminal 5

Photos: Heathrow's Terminal 5 comes alive

Photos: Technology at the heart of Terminal 5

BA recently announced the planned move of the airline's long-haul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 is to be delayed until June. Under the original plans, almost all BA's Terminal 4 long-haul services were to switch to Terminal 5 on 30 April.

It's a wise move. We've covered the development of T5 for months - you can see video and photos here.

It seems that the big-bang introduction of so many flights at once was too much for the new terminal to take. But that's been well documented elsewhere on silicon.com.

What amazed me about the whole episode was the outpouring of despair caused by the problems the new terminal had in its first week.

It seemed like a cue for much of the UK to sink into a trough of despondency about the country's ability to finish any project successfully. Execs I would talk to would segue from the woes at T5 to why their own company had failed to finish this or that project.

Is the uncomfortable first few days of T5 emblematic of wider problems with UK business?

I'd argue not. Lessons must undoubtedly be learned by everyone involved - including those who were merely onlookers this time around.

Still - on my return journey I had a peek at what T5 could bring to the weary business traveller. I was off the plane - and had picked up my luggage - and sailed out of the airport in just 10 minutes. Much more of that kind of behaviour and T5 will get a completely different reputation.

Editor's choice - three things you must check out on silicon.com this week:

Find out what silicon.com Agenda Setter - and BBC director of future media and technology - Ashley Highfield is up to next.

And check out our interview with the FBI cyber crime chief. Plus, spy on some very small laptops here.