He's so right. And the condition of the airport is scandalous. I fly from City whenever possible, because it's so much easier than a BAA airport. If Gatwick became a non BAA airport it would be London's main airport within two years. It is only lack of competition that lets BAA be so woeful.

Damian, London, UK

I think several of the comments that have been made are fairly naive. Firstly, BAA is a business like any other - it is run to make profits and one of the best ways to do so is airport retail. This is important given the CAA fix the prices that BAA can charge for passengers passing through the airport.

Secondly, BAA owns and run Gatwick as well as Heathrow.

Thirdly, airport retail will help fund terminal five, Heathrow East and the redevelopment of Heathrow terminals three and four and the proposed third runway. Without retail the airport would have to charge landing fees which airlines (which typically have very top operating margins) would be forced to pass on to passengers.

James, London ,

Why are BAA controlled airports the only airports in the world where
passengers are only allowed to take 1 bag through security, despite
the fact that the airlines themselves allow 2? I assume this was done to cut down
the time taken to go through security, however as any frequent traveller
knows, this is infact not the case.

Richard, UK

Richard Kirk, Reading,

I agree - the route to the departure gate at Terminal 1 has even been change to detour through a new shopping mall . In addition, the security staff at Heathrow are the scruffiest and most casual of any at a major european airport.

R Morrisey-Paine, Athens, Greece

On my last flight from Heathrow I carefully put all my liquids in the correct size container and then into the required plastic bag before passing through security.
On boarding the flight I was allowed to take on a hot cup of coffee. Where is the sense in that?

Vanessa, Reading,

Yes; Heathrow is run on cynically commercial lines by BAA. Just look at the 'non-shopping' infrastructrure; the carparks are absolutely disgraceful, the toilets often filthy and stinking, and the passageways and connecting walkways look like something out of one of the more deprived council housing estates. BAA are aware of this, of course, - how could they not be - it's just that they don't care because their focus is only on the shopping outlets. I've nothing against running a business efficiently and profitably, but it is an airport, a channel for travel, not a shopping destingation it itself. Puts me off using it.

andrew, london, uk

Sir Michael is correct current BAA policy will only lead to passengers looking for alternative solutions to avoid 3 to 4 hours check in requirements. There will be gains for European Airports and Airlines as well as Eurostar, losses of course for the UK. Equally, in my opinion, the shorter the check in time the less opportunity the would be terrorist will have to prepare.
Full terminals and therefore congestion is also a recipe for delayed flights and general safety. A fire, for example, in a full terminal would obviously be a major disaster. Also a security issue could easily go wrong.
Today High Tech equipment can process security checks very quickly and therefore the check in and security process should, on average, take less than an hour even at peak times. It only takes investment. More important though is the travellers experience and at the moment the long queues to check in, go through security and eventually board the aircraft is generally very poor.

Melvyn Simson, Sipson, Middlesex

My personal view is that London's leading international airport has the best management of passenger handling in the region. The airport management does what is necessary to get passengers through security with minimum delay. It suits the customers (the passengers and the airlines).
I refer of course to Luton (not, of course, operated by BAA).

RichardCr, Baden, Switzerland

The bottlenecks at security due to lack of scanners are a disgrace to a weste4rn country. It must also be a security risk to have an overcrowded terminal building. The check in time has been lengthening steadily - 4 hours is an outrage - and this has put me off fling from the UK. Better to fly from Paris or Schipol.

michael clarke, london, uk

Couldn’t agree more with Mr. Bishop. In October last year I travelled from Stansted airport. After a ridiculously long wait (1 hr. 15 min.) to reach passport control, a further 15 minutes to reach security screening and having been divested of a very small plastic tube of lipgloss that I had forgotten to remove from my handbag, I waited another hour in the departure lounge only to be interviewed by a nice lady from BAA who wanted to know what, if anything I had bought in the departure lounge. She seemed to be upset and disappointed when I told her that I was less interested in the BAA shops than getting to my destination without further hassle. I would have preferred a survey on how I felt about the increased checking-in and waiting times. But, of course, I and my fellow travellers are only of interest when there is money to be made.

H. Hanson, Ostrach, Germany

I've flown from both Gatwick and Heathrow recently, and security has become absurd. At Gatwick, there are different requirements between different scanners, causing inevitable passenger confusion, while at Heathrow the whole process took so long that I ended up, like hundreds of others, being called to the front as my flight was getting delayed.

It's hardly presenting an image of slick and efficient security to turn the airport into a huge queue. I'm not sure it's a shopping mall though - I spent 3 hours there unable to get a drink of water as I was stuck in queues. I guess the best bet is to not bother queuing and just stroll to the front when your flight is called.

Eve Vine, Hong Kong,

If Lynne thinks that the staff at Heathrow are rude, she should try flying via Chicago. The security staff there bark at you as if you are a convict.

George Clarkson, High Wycombe, UK

Heathrow airport is an absolute disgrace thanks to BAA who are more interested in running a cramped shopping mall than an efficient airport which is what they are supposed to be doing. Manchester Airport is so much nicer to fly from.

Lets not forget also its BAA who are ripping people of wanting to use the Heathrow Express service.

If you ever fly back from Singapore Changi airport or Hong Kong airport, its extremely embarrassing and depressing to return to Heathrow. Its like coming back to the 3rd world.

Vivek, London,

If you think Heathrow is bad, it's paradise compared to Miami!

John, East Sussex, UK

Heathrow has always been a nightmare; the security staff are the rudest and most inefficient I have encountered anywhere in the world. However, as a shopaholic, I like nothing better than to start my holiday with a nice, leisurely browse around great shops. More efficient security processing would allow me to spend more time shopping whilst also allowing those who do not wish to shop a speedier progress through the airport to board their plane. Whether you want to shop or go straight through to boarding, the security process must be speeded up.

Lynne, Bath, UK

I agree with Sir Michael Bishop that BAA is in place to rip off the flying public. The baa staff checking carry on are clueless. They can't make there mind up . Water is classiefied as Haz. material as well as after shave and perfume.
Where does common sence come in to this !

Then when you go through you can buy the same items at boots ! This is a great rip off BAA style !

John, London, UK

Heathrow is the worst airport in Europe for congestion, security is a jole. I, like the previous commentator, use LHR as a threat potential in it's own right. Give me Gatwick anyday.

Robert Catt, Old Coulsdon, UK

Absolutly spot on. I used to enjoy flying but now theres nothing to do except wait in lines or shop. And food prices are way over the top to cover the rent BAA charge. BAA are more focused on profits than doing what they are supposed to do which is supply the terminus for traveling.

James, Glasgow,

Finally, a Big Wig comes out and tells the truth, as it is.
To get the passengers into the airside shopping malls after the security checks, BAA have even taken out/off the airline flight boarding gate notices from the land side in the terminals. That means, passengers have to go into the malls and hang around in there, for as long as possible, spending the money, from which BAA takes a cut.

Arvin, London,

At last someone in the airline industry has the guts to stand up to the greedy monopoly that BAA is. BAA dont just own the terminals but all the land around the airport so the airlines have to pay dearly to be located close to the airport - their property arm is a local monopoly - ask the property departments of the airlines how difficult they are to deal with. This is a hidden scandal that the newspapers have ignored

A Traveller, Isleworth,

He's right. Heathrow in particular is such a nightmare, I don't want to fly there any more. Getting through security is ricidulously slow and as a result the terminals are way too crowded.I have recently chosen a carrier that flies to Gatwick to avoid Heathrow, so I think it will affect airlines.

Oonagh, Hong Kong,