Just an outsider here. Actually a sort-of outsider as our company (located near LHR) had several visitors from Scotland and the north yesterday, all of whom had grossly disorganised journeys home.
The incidents described are reasonably straightforward and do not lead to gross disorganisation elsewhere. How is it that about once a month something happening at LHR leads to cancellation of half the BA domestic programme for the rest of the day ?
Who allowed Rwy 23 to be closed (seemingly just to park a few more T4 aircraft) when the airport is in such a tight situation ?
Who allows things like the T5 construction cranes to impinge on the glidescope putting the opposite runway out of action for arrivals ? Goodness me it's an AIRPORT that BAA are running ! It's not as if alternative construction techniques are not possible.
Why are runway-impinging works not done at night ? Heathrow has it easier than most at that time, with little/no small-hours activity and 2 non-intersecting runways available anyway.