BA Pulls Terminal 5 Ad Campaign During "Meltdown"

The business daily said the national flag carrier had planned to trumpet the speed with which passengers could move through Terminal 5 in a television, newspaper and Internet publicity blitz next week.

But BA decided to delay the campaign, produced by advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty, after the supposedly state-of-the-art baggage handling system broke down because of computer glitches.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled since the 8.7-billion-dollar (5.6-billion-euro) terminal opened on Thursday, delaying passengers and leaving many others without their luggage.

At least 15,000 bags are stranded at Heathrow airport after a third day of cancellations at the new Terminal 5.

The news came after one-fifth of British Airways flights from the troubled terminal were scrapped on Saturday - 67 out of the 330 scheduled.

Many passengers said they departed on flights after being told their luggage would not be travelling. A further 37 flights have been cancelled for Sunday.