Had a friend + wife + 3 kids all HK residents turn up at the Airport for the morning (9am+ morning!!) LHR flight ( Wednesday) only to be told that for operational reasons the flight cancelled.
Mighty pissed off as had checked in on line ,had a connecting flight and thereafter a hire car all arranged.
Cathy have them on tonight Flight (Wed ) and a day stay in the Regal Told the flight had "only" been cancelled at midnight as an excuse for no alert before arriving at the airport,
A delay from last wekend or another problem ??
Much ado about nothing (but do not tell that to the family concerned at this point of time or risk serious assault )and.... no I am not a journo snooping for a story Thanx
slapfaan
10th Aug 2006, 15:27
Found this on www.iol.co.za (south african newspaper website)
Plot to blow up aircraft in mid-air uncovered
August 10 2006 at 08:58AM
An alleged terror plot foiled by British police was designed to "bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life," Home Secretary John Reid said Thursday.
The plot disrupted by Scotland Yard was "very significant" and the authorities believed it to "be a major threat to the UK and international partners," Reid said.
The operation would mean major disruption at all airports throughout the United Kingdom, he said.
However, he added: "As far as is possible we want people to go about their business as normal." - Sapa-AFP
Airlines cancel UK-bound flights
August 10 2006 at 03:44PM
South African Airways (SAA) is not cancelling flights to the United Kingdom yet, but has warned of lengthy delays on return flights because of the terror threat uncovered in London on Thursday.
Britain went on to its highest state of terror alert on Thursday after police arrested 21 people for a plot involving the hiding of explosive devices in hand baggage for detonation on US-bound flights.
British Home Secretary John Reid described the plot as "very significant" and designed to "bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life."
"At this stage we are still planning on flying this evening," said SAA spokesperson Jacqui O'Sullivan.
Only essential items will be allowed to be carried on board
The Spanish airline, Iberia, cancelled flights into London's Heathrow airport on Thursday morning, at the request of British airport authorities.
British Airways UK warned of severe delays and possible flight cancellations and advised any customers who did not need to travel to stay at home.
The French airline, Air France, cancelled three Paris to London flights, while Singapore Airlines advised customers to comply with hand baggage restrictions and allow extra time to check-in.
The German airline, Lufthansa, also cancelled all its pre-2pm flights to Britain. Lufthansa was to have operated 56 Britain-bound flights on Thursday.
Australia's Qantas airlines announced tougher security checks and baggage controls on all flights to and from Britain. It had started contacting customers likely to be affected by the new security measures in Australia, its Asian hubs and in the UK and Europe. - Sapa
"SAA's three daily flights to London landed this morning and passengers disembarked safely."
The airline was monitoring the situation "on a minute by minute basis, not even hourly," she said.
The Spanish airline, Iberia, cancelled flights into London's Heathrow airport on Thursday morning, at the request of British airport authorities.
British Airways UK warned of severe delays and possible flight cancellations and advised any customers who did not need to travel to stay at home.
The French airline, Air France, cancelled three Paris to London flights, while Singapore Airlines advised customers to comply with hand baggage restrictions and allow extra time to check-in.
The German airline, Lufthansa, also cancelled all its pre-2pm flights to Britain. Lufthansa was to have operated 56 Britain-bound flights on Thursday.
Australia's Qantas airlines announced tougher security checks and baggage controls on all flights to and from Britain. It had started contacting customers likely to be affected by the new security measures in Australia, its Asian hubs and in the UK and Europe. - Sapa
British Airways also said flights leaving South Africa for London's Heathrow Airport would operate as normal on Thursday night.
However, it warned that onward flights - particularly European services - could be cancelled or delayed because of severe airport congestion as a result of increased security arrangements.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) general manager of aviation security, Mongezi India, convened a meeting on Thursday with "all people involved in airport security" to decide on a course of action, said spokesperson Moses Seate.
Those talks were still underway by mid-afternoon, he said.
SAA had not been notified of any additional airport security ordered by the CAA - which determines the extent of the security measures in place at airports, said O'Sullivan.
The airline operates three flights a day to London - a flight from Johannesburg at 8.10pm, another at 8.40pm, and a flight from Cape Town at 7pm. The next SAA return flight is on Friday morning.
"At this stage, SA234, SA236 from Johannesburg to London and SA220 from Cape Town to London will depart as scheduled," she said.
All flights departing from London would be subjected to 100 percent security screening. This affected passengers on SA235 and SA237 from London to Johannesburg on Thursday night and SA221, headed for Cape Town.
British Airways operates three flights a day from South Africa to London Heathrow, two evening departures from Johannesburg and one from Cape Town.
Its Comair domestic and regional flights were operating as normal and were not affected by the security arrangements at UK airports.
The latest flight information was available on www.ba.com
and customers were advised to check the site before travelling, the airline said.
Britain's Transport Department has banned the carrying of hand luggage and limited the items which may be taken on board aircraft, and only in clear plastic bags.
"Only essential items will be allowed to be carried on board," said O'Sullivan.
"SAA asks customers to be patient with these additional measures and to add extra time to their travel arrangements out of London," she said.
No electrical or battery-powered items including laptops, mobile phones, ipods and remote controls could be carried into the cabin and would have to be checked in as hold baggage.
Permitted items included: pocket-sized wallets and purses; essential travel documents; essential, non-liquid medications unless verified as authentic; spectacles without cases; and contact-lens holders, but no bottles of solution.
Also allowed would be baby food, but it would first have to be tasted by the accompanying adult; essential infant sanitary items; essential, un-boxed female sanitary items; un-boxed tissues or handkerchiefs; and keys without electrical fobs.
Passengers were being hand-searched and their possessions - including footwear, pushchairs walking sticks - X-rayed.
Only flights departing from London were affected. Passengers travelling from South Africa would still be allowed to carry normal hand luggage, said O'Sullivan.
She said the airline had been advised that passengers on flights to America would not be allowed to carry on board liquid or gels in any form or size. This included alcohol, perfume, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste and hair gel.
Passengers could have baby formula, breast milk, or juice for a small child, prescription medicine, insulin and essential non-prescription medicines.
"Any duty free items will be confiscated."
O'Sullivan asked passengers to call 0800-747-747 for more information.
She said airline was advising people not embarking on essential travel to reschedule their flights - at no additional cost. - Sapa