When the A/C comes in late it does rather mess up the schedule of the ground staff, ramp staff, fuelers, coach drivers, cleaning staff, stand allocations etc etc.
They should focus on getting the flights that are running to schedule out on time even if that means delaying an already delayed aircraft. Better to have one aircraft full of delayed pax than 2 or 3. Much easier to fix a few connections through LHR than delay other people and have them perhaps miss a connection at a less served airport. If several of the passengers have already got no chance of making connections then there is even less chance the flight will get special treatment. Better to simply rebook them in advance of the flight even landing. It may not make sense to passengers, but it is the most logical way to do things.
Last edited by edi_local; 24th May 2013 at 15:20.