Lufthansa want compensation over Heathrow terminal move delay
09.07.08
BAA is facing a new multi-million-pound bill over the problems caused by the chaotic opening of Heathrow, the Evening Standard reports. It says that Lufthansa, the biggest foreign airline at the airport, is set to demand compensation after learning that its move to Terminal 1 has been set back a year.
The German airline today blamed BAA for the ‘unacceptable delay’ and confirmed that they would seek compensation - reported to be in the region of £200,000 for every month they are delayed. Dr Karsten Benz, Lufthansa's vice president for Europe, said: ‘We see BAA is concentrating now on Terminal 5 which is state-of-the-art, but the other terminals are from the old days. We are not fine with this status.'
‘If people do not want to fly British Airways they should also be entitled to proper facilities at the airport. We have been officially told we will be moving to Terminal 1 in November but we know that it will now not be until next year. This is a major disadvantage to our customers.’
‘We ask, as the third largest carrier at Heathrow, that we need more precise information from BAA. Instead we are kept in the dark. The delay is unacceptable for us and has a major impact. Our customers do not feel a quality experience when they are at Heathrow.'
‘We want to resolve this through discussions and negotiations - we don't want to have to pursue them in the courts. The airport focuses on retail and not on the airlines. When you go through immigration, you have to find your way through perfume and cigarettes to find your boarding gate.’
BAA would not comment directly, but a spokesman told the newspaper: ‘BAA is investing £6.2 billion over the next 10 years to build new facilities and reinvigorate the airport, ensuring all passengers experience world-class facilities and service at Heathrow. As part of this major programme of improvements, over 50 of the airport's airlines are moving terminals between March 2008 and the end of 2009. BAA is in close consultation with our airlines and other airport partners to make the process as smooth as possible.’
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