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Airlines to cut Heathrow flights amid security row
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 13 - 08 - 2006


Airlines will cut 20 percent of
flights departing London's Heathrow Airport on Monday following
a directive by the airport's owner amid a growing row over how
to handle tougher security measures, Reuters reported.
Airport operator BAA Plc said Sunday carriers had to cut
departures further this week to cope with congestion caused by
tightened security which some airlines warned was close to
bringing airports to a close.
The directive followed a 30 percent reduction in flights on
Sunday as airlines struggle with tight security at UK airports
following a foiled plot to blow up transatlantic airliners.
British Airways (BA) said it was complying with the
directive and expected to cut 20 percent of its flights from
Heathrow on Monday. This included 39 short-haul flights out of
202 and five long-haul flights out of 76.
British Airways said it expected to operate a full European
and long-haul schedule from Gatwick but some domestic flights
would be impacted.
Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic criticised the directive
saying it favoured airlines like British Airways which could cut
less-lucrative short flights and keep most of its long-haul
operations running.
"There is no level playing field," a Virgin spokesman said.
Virgin, which only operates long-haul flights, also called
on the BAA to let it operate some flights from London's other
airports such as Gatwick. Virgin plans to cancel 3 flights on
Monday.
The directive at Heathrow applies to airlines with four or
more flights a day from the airport. A source familiar with the
situation said the BAA had threatened to deny airlines the use
of airport facilities if they did not comply.
Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline, earlier called
on Britain to revise what it called "heavy handed" airport
security measures and said London airports were on the brink of
collapse.
The Dublin-based group cancelled 20 percent of flights out
of its main London Stansted base over the weekend.
British Airways earlier called on the BAA to increase
resources with chief executive Willie Walsh complaining: "BAA is
unable to provide a robust security search process and baggage
operation."
BAA's chief at Heathrow, Tony Douglas, said that if extra
searches were maintained, long queues and cancellations were
inevitable. "They're not sustainable measures," he said.
"I don't know how long it's likely to go on," he told BBC
television.
British low-cost carrier easyJet said it expected to cancel
about 30 flights on Monday.


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