London Heathrow reopened Terminal 4 after a security scare due to a suspicious bag led to the cancellation of over 100 flights. British Airways said it had cut 108 flights after cancelling all its European departures from the terminal for the day, as well as all long-haul flights for six hours. At least seven transatlantic flights to the United States were cancelled, stranding American passengers hoping to return for July 4 Independence Day celebrations.
Our ‘friends’ at the Coalition for Luggage Security are predicting gloom and doom for this holiday week and throughout the holiday season as “the nation’s major airports are at high risk as targets for suitcase bombs being detonated by terrorists at ticket counter areas with maximum and horrific effects.”
Their founder, also head of Universal Express is predicting “demand among air travelers over the July 4th holiday and summer months for luggage shipping services from its subsidiaries, Luggage Express and Virtual BellHop, will continue to grow up to 30 percent monthly because the appeal of traveling ‘luggage free’ is more affordable, less stressful, time efficient, and more secure than checking bags with the airlines.”
Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff yesterday played down a report Al Queda was planning a big attack in the United States.