New Delhi: Heathrow airport in London is frequented by lakhs of flyers every year. The world-class infrastructure and magnificence of the airport leaves travelers highly impressed and many flyers also have memories of spending ‘memorable time’ in its premises.
However, what happened at Heathrow airport last night was a sad story to tell. The airport saw widespread chaos & bedlam as hundreds of air passengers were stuck without food & water for long hours. There were long queues for getting immigration clearances while those who arrived at the airport had to wait for hours for collecting their baggage.
The pictures that surfaced shows the ‘pity state’ of Heathrow airport and also the utter chaos that prevailed for good 4-5 hours.
Travelers who went through the ordeal narrated their nightmarish experience at the Heathrow and recalled how Indian counterparts were much better equipped to handle such situations.
A passenger said that he had to wait for 4-5 hours to collect his baggage as there was no one to help. Another one said that all food outlets were closed and they had to endure tough time without water. Moreover, the unprecedented gathering of people in the premises made the environment suffocating & sickening.
What happened at Heathrow airport
According to reports, the Heathrow airport saw rush of passengers last night as multiple flights landed around 8 PM. What followed showed the utter mismanagement & failure of airport management.
At a couple of counters, many Indian passport holders had to wait for hours for getting clearance. Some of them were kept waiting for over 4-5 hours.
The incoming travelers had a harrowing time, as their baggages didn’t arrive at the belts for hours. The absence of support staff at the belts made the situation more complicated.
The ‘harassed’ passengers struggled hard to make their way out of the din and leave for respective homes. When coming out of the airport, they found the food & dining outlets closed.
A couple of them, narrating the ordeal, said that the Indian airports & its 24×7 services were much better than Western ones including Heathrow.
“In any adverse circumstances, the hospitality & services at Indian airports far exceeds those of Western counterparts,” they said.
Any official clarification about chaos at Heathrow airport is yet to come out. Though, some reports say that UK airports were bracing for a tough time in Summers as airport staff have stepped up their demand for a pay hike and are planning to organize mass strikes.
Reports said that about 2,000 staff at London’s Heathrow Airport had recently announced strikes over pay while another one was being planned at Birmingham airport.
For the unversed, Heathrow airport in London is Europe’s largest airport and serves as a major hub for international flights.
