T5 gets off the ground after two weeks' delay

Heathrow's Terminal 5 was finally operating a full flight schedule today - nearly two weeks after opening.

Yesterday, the Evening Standard reported how the £4.3billion building was transformed into a cardboard city after flight cancellations forced hundreds of people to sleep by the check-in desks.

Today is the first let-up in passenger misery after 12 days of lost baggage, computer glitches and weather disruption leading to some 700 flights being scrapped.

All travellers caught up in yesterday's disruption - when 42 flights were cancelled - have been found new flights, a BA spokeswoman said, adding: "We're expecting to operate a full service today."

Passengers told how they arrived early for flights today and carried as many possessions in their hand luggage as possible because they did not trust that they would arrive at their destination without problems.

Helen Passingham-Hughes, 44, a market researcher flying to Geneva today, said: "I'm taking all my clothes I need for my two-day conference in my hand luggage so I can't lose them."

Thomas Walsh, 41, who was taking his wife Heidi, 37,and their two young sons to Florida, said: "So far it seems to be working smoothly but we're reserving our judgment until we see our bags at the other end on time."

The catalogue of disasters has cost BA at least £16 million. Chief executive Willie Walsh has refused to resign.