BA Flights Resume To Saudia Arabia

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-6-2003 | Paul Marston

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BA flights resume to Saudi Arabia

By Paul Marston, Transport Correspondent
(Filed: 06/09/2003)

British Airways will resume flights to Saudi Arabia today after expressing satisfaction with fresh counter-terrorist measures implemented by the Saudi authorities.

Security at Riyadh and Jeddah airports has been strengthened extensively since the threat of a missile attack on a BA aircraft prompted the sudden suspension of services three weeks ago.

The Saudi armed forces are much more in evidence at the airports, with intensive patrols of the terminal buildings, airfield and perimeter. The changes followed a full review of security in which BA managers and UK Government officials took part.

The airline withdrew its eight-a-week services within 24 hours of the Saudi authorities discovering evidence of a plan to target an airliner at Riyadh's King Khalid International airport.

In a series of armed clashes with Islamic militants in the city, security forces seized maps and documents suggesting that terrorists had already carried out surveillance of BA's operations at the airport.

Reports that an illegal consignment of shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles was found at about the same time have not been confirmed.

Geoff Want, BA's director of safety and security, described the new airport safeguards as robust and sustainable. "We are now satisfied that levels of security are appropriate for us to resume services. We continue to liaise with the UK's Department of Transport and will keep the situation under close review," he said.

Meanwhile the Foreign Office toned down its travel advice for Britons visiting Saudi Arabia, suggesting "essential" journeys were permissible.

However, referring to the May bomb attacks in Riyadh that killed 30, including two Britons, it said further "attacks against western interests in Saudi Arabia remain likely".