Airlines cancels flights from Heathrow after security alert

Asia-Pacific

British Airways, along with all other airlines, is experiencing major disruption to its operations at London Heathrow on Thursday, August 10, because of the severe airport congestion, following the introduction of new…

British Airways, along with all other airlines, is experiencing major disruption to its operations at London Heathrow on Thursday, August 10, because of the severe airport congestion, following the introduction of new security arrangements.

All British Airways shorthaul (UK and European) inbound and outbound flights to and from London Heathrow up until 1500 BST on Thursday 10 August are cancelled.

Any customers (both longhaul and shorthaul) who do not need to travel today to or from London Heathrow (Thursday August 10) are advised to stay at home.

It is likely that there may be a number of longhaul cancellations from London Heathrow during the day.

The traffic situation on all approaching roads to London Heathrow is also extremely congested and any customers thinking of flying from the airport to are advised to leave plenty of time for their journeys.

British Airways flights at Gatwick and flights operated by the airline`s regional subsidiary BA Connect, are continuing to operate albeit with delays.

Customers who have to travel are advised to check on ba.com where they will be able to find the very latest up to the minute information regarding every British Airways flight.

Passengers who do decide to travel from any UK airport, may only take through the airport security search point, the following items:

Travel documents essential for the journey (eg passports, tickets and visas)
Pocket sized wallets and pocked sized purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards and identity cards).

Handbags are not permitted.
Prescribed medicines essential for the duration of the flight, except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases.
Contact lenses, without bottles of solution
For those traveling with an infant: baby food, milk and sanitary items essential for the flight.
Keys (but no electrical key fobs).
Every other item must be carried in customer`s hold luggage.

For clarity, passengers are advised that no electrical or battery powered items including laptops, mobile phones, ipods, remote controls etc can be carried in the cabin and must be checked in as hold baggage.

Customers who choose not to travel from any UK airports on British Airways today (Thursday August 10) will be able to refund or rebook their flight tickets.

All rebookings have to be for travel before 1 December 2006.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is advising customers on flights from the United Kingdom that special, stringent measures have been introduced for the carriage of cabin baggage on all flights from the UK, until further notice.

Accordingly, all customers on Singapore Airlines flights from London Heathrow (three flights per day) and Manchester (daily flight) from 10 August 2006 until further notice, must observe the following restrictions on items taken beyond the airport security search points.

Singapore Airlines has been told to expect significant delays at airports. Customers are asked to allow plenty of extra time for check-in, and to ensure that, other than the few permitted items listed above, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in.

easyJet advice for passengers:

As a result of the congestion caused by increased security checks at all UK airports today, easyJet anticipates flights will be disrupted – including delays and cancellations. easyJet asks all passengers to check its website for information before departing for the airport. The airline is currently assessing which flights will be cancelled and will post a list on its website shortly.

If your flight is cancelled, please do not go the the airport – you can use our website to book another flight or to claim a refund

If your flight is operating please be prepared for disruption, allow plenty of time for getting to the airport and present yourself at check in two hours prior to the scheduled time of departure.

Passengers must also reconsider what baggage they are carrying today – with immediate effect NO hand-baggage will be allowed on aircraft. Only certain essential items will be allowed into the cabin – provided they are contained in transparent plastic bags, which will be issued at airports. All other items are required to be packed into hold baggage and checked-in on arrival at the airport.

Brussels Airport

All flights between Brussels and this airport are cancelled until further notice. Flights to the other London airports are carried out as scheduled.

Passengers having London Heathrow as their final destination are strongly advised to contact their airline or travel agent before coming to the airport this morning.

For passengers who would normally have flown to their final

destination via Heathrow today, the airlines are doing their utmost to propose an alternative travel route with departure from Brussels.

Passengers for direct transatlantic flights departing from Brussels are requested to come to the airport well in time.

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Vicky Karantzavelou

Co-Founder & Chief Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Articles

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.