Heathrow Terminal 5 senior managers fired over ongoing problems

The head of British Airways axed two senior Terminal 5 managers for their failure to notify officials of early warnings they had received about potential problems with Terminal 5 facilities.

T5 staff cheered when they heard the news that Gareth Kirkwood, director of operations, and David Noyes, director of customer services, had been fired.

Willie Walsh, the airline’s chief executive, has rejected calls for his resignation, but was forced to take some action when union leaders revealed that they had raised concerns with T5 senior management about baggage handling, computer and security systems during the six month period before the opening.

Mr Walsh asserts that the information was never passed on to him by union officials.

A senior source at British Airways said: “The Mirror was pivotal in this action because the union made it clear problems were aired to management, but never reached Willie.”

Mr Kirkwood brought attention on himself when he was seen live on television running from reporters and locking the door to a staff room where he stayed to avoid confrontation by the media.

Mr Noyes, however, made an appearance at a conference prior to the 27 March opening of the terminal, say that it would be “a fantastic facility” – and that anyone checking in wouldn’t ever have more than one person waiting in front of them.

It is not anticipated that the two senior managers would receive huge pay-outs. A baggage handler commented: “Management had to take the blame.”

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