Software Failure Causes Havoc at Heathrow

An automated baggage handling system was up and running at London’s Heathrow Airport Wednesday, one day after a massive software failure shut it down.

The breakdown at British Airways long-haul Terminal 4 forced the airline to tell thousands of economy passengers they couldn’t check in luggage for their flights and would only be allowed two carry-on bags, The Times of London reports.

A spokeswoman for airport operator BAA told Times Online that the breakdown forced workers to sort baggage by hand and delays were expected to continue Wednesday despite the restoration of the automated system.

In addition to British Airways, the shutdown affected other airlines that operate out of Terminal 4, including Qantas, KLM and SN Brussels.

The malfunction came one day before the release of figures naming British Airways as Europe’s second worst performing airline in 2007 for mishandling luggage.