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British Air Cancels Two Flights From London

Aired February 12, 2004 - 13:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: At least two more British Airways flight out of London won't be taking off as scheduled and terrorism fears once again are the reason. This time, though, the canceled flights are days away. CNN's Walter Rodgers bring us up to speed from London now -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. British Airways canceled those two flight, it says, on the recommendations of the British government. Of course British Airways, when it gets that sort of warning of a terrorist threat or has security fears of some legitimacy from its own government, has to abide by those concerns and cancel the flights.

The two flights which were canceled were not, interestingly, today or tomorrow flights. They were actually flights this coming Sunday and Monday. Sunday's flight was British Airways Flight 223, London Heathrow Airport to Washington Dulles Airport.

This has been a particularly troubled flight ever since December 31 when it was delayed on the runway for hours, again, out of security fears. And since that time there have been at least eight similar cancellations or delays for BA 223 from London to Washington.

The other flight, by the way, is British Airways 263, London Heathrow Airport to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That flight was scheduled to go on Monday of the coming week. The British, again, see Saudi Arabia as an area which faces considerable terrorism. They obviously had a specific threat of some sort. So again, they canceled that.

On the Saudi flight, there were 149 passengers who were left to fend for themselves. Now, the flight to Washington, 184 passengers. So over 300 passengers overall have been left to find new ways to get to their destinations or they will be looking for refund -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Walter Rodgers, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 12, 2004 - 13:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: At least two more British Airways flight out of London won't be taking off as scheduled and terrorism fears once again are the reason. This time, though, the canceled flights are days away. CNN's Walter Rodgers bring us up to speed from London now -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. British Airways canceled those two flight, it says, on the recommendations of the British government. Of course British Airways, when it gets that sort of warning of a terrorist threat or has security fears of some legitimacy from its own government, has to abide by those concerns and cancel the flights.

The two flights which were canceled were not, interestingly, today or tomorrow flights. They were actually flights this coming Sunday and Monday. Sunday's flight was British Airways Flight 223, London Heathrow Airport to Washington Dulles Airport.

This has been a particularly troubled flight ever since December 31 when it was delayed on the runway for hours, again, out of security fears. And since that time there have been at least eight similar cancellations or delays for BA 223 from London to Washington.

The other flight, by the way, is British Airways 263, London Heathrow Airport to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That flight was scheduled to go on Monday of the coming week. The British, again, see Saudi Arabia as an area which faces considerable terrorism. They obviously had a specific threat of some sort. So again, they canceled that.

On the Saudi flight, there were 149 passengers who were left to fend for themselves. Now, the flight to Washington, 184 passengers. So over 300 passengers overall have been left to find new ways to get to their destinations or they will be looking for refund -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Walter Rodgers, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com