Restrictions Eased, But Delays Continue

Things continue to be very harrowing for passengers trying to fly to and from Great Britain.

As Aero-News reported Monday, the British government Monday reduced the terror alert level there from Critical to Severe... but that's done just about nothing to improve the situation at Heathrow or Gatwick or other airports throughout the UK.

Carry-on luggage is still harshly restricted, although slightly relaxed rules were to go into effect at Heathrow and Gatwick early Tuesday morning. And security remains tightest on flights from Britain to America.

In all, 68 flights from Heathrow were cancelled on Monday... as were 27 at Gatwick -- including all domestic BA flights.

At Stansted Airport alone, 15 flights never made the gate on Monday.

Executives at Heathrow continue to warn of delays... although there may be some hope on the horizon. Airport officials told the BBC that instead of searching every single passenger going into the passenger concourse... they're now only searching every other passenger. That, airport officials say, has already helped improve flow.

British Airports Authority CEO Stephen Nelson says this is the biggest security crisis in the history of aviation in his country.

FMI: www.mi5.gov.uk/output/Page421.html