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Red army: protesters marched through Heathrow's controversial Terminal 5 yesterday

At 11am yesterday a throng of campaigners peeled off their clothes to reveal red Stop Heathrow Expansion t-shirts.

Minutes later the 500-strong crowd formed a giant conga line and a river of red took over the international arrivals hall at Heathrow's brand new £4.3billion Terminal 5.

The chairman of the action group Hacan, John Stewart, said: "Over 500 people have turned up. I am very pleased with this turnout. It shows the real opposition in west London to expansion at Heathrow.

"We realise that there is extra capacity needed but this terminal will bring in many more planes and a third runway will bring in 80,000 extra flights.

"As a result of T5 there will be more noise and more pollution at a time when we need to start putting the environment first."

Nic Ferriday for West London Friends of the Earth, said the Government must abandon its plans for a third runway and a sixth terminal.

He said: "If the Government is serious about tackling climate change the opening of T5 must mark the end of airport expansion in Britain."

The new chapter in the airport's history began at 4.50am on Thursday when the terminal's first passengers arrived from Hong Kong on flight BA26.

Inaugurated by the Queen two weeks ago, the British Airways building welcomed 12,000 passengers on its first day.

Managing director of Heathrow's owners, BAA, Mark Bullock, said they had waited for 20 years for T5 to open, as the hub became increasingly congested.

He said: "T5 signifies a new beginning for Heathrow and I am immensely proud that we opened the doors of this magnificent building today, exactly when we said we would."

Reports emerged early yesterday morning that something had gone seriously wrong with the terminal's new high-tech baggage system.

One passenger said: "It's a disaster. No bags are coming through. Even with all the rehearsals they did, it hasn't made a difference. We have been waiting for ages."

A British Airways spokesperson said there were "minor teething problems" with baggage, parking, security and staff's familiarity with the vast new terminal.

"This is not unexpected following one of the most complex and largest airport moves in history," he added.

9:56am Friday 28th March 2008

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