Airlines cancel flights over security fears

UK: Three airlines cancelled transatlantic flights yesterday, following a fresh terror alert that coincided with growing criticism…

UK: Three airlines cancelled transatlantic flights yesterday, following a fresh terror alert that coincided with growing criticism by the European Union privacy watchdog of US passenger-vetting procedures.

Flights operated by British Airways, Air France and Continental Airlines were cancelled yesterday. Several of the airlines' flights from the US, scheduled for today, were also cancelled because the aircraft remained in the UK and France.

The cancellations were the result of what a security official said yesterday was "increased collection capacity" of information on potential terrorist threats by intelligence agencies. The information leading to yesterday's cancellations was sent by the US to UK and French officials, the official said.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that the threat may involve terrorists boarding aircraft with hidden anthrax spores, to be released into the cabin. Security officials said yesterday it was unclear whether the threat was this specific, but that terrorists linked with al-Qaeda could be considering new ways of using attacks against aircraft to spread fear.

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In December, Washington raised its terror alert to the second-highest level and asked British Airways and Air France to cancel several US-bound flights. US authorities also asked foreign airlines to put armed marshals on some flights and dispatched fighter jets to escort some incoming aircraft.

Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Portugal were firmly against the air marshal proposals, EU officials have said. France and Britain said they were ready to accept them in some cases.

A draft statement by the EU's data protection working party yesterday criticised aspects of the US demand that details of passengers flying to the US be sent in advance of flights taking off.

The US had demanded a list of 39 items regarding passengers, which are to be analysed prior to departure. The EU had recommended that this be cut to 19, and airlines are now providing a 34-item list. However, a fresh dispute may erupt over the absence of an appeals procedure against decisions by US Homeland Security officials on individual passengers. US citizens have a right to appeal against decisions, but the same procedure does not apply to non-US citizens.

Mr Stefano Rodota, the EU watchdog's chairman, said EU privacy law would be watered down if the European Commission bowed to US demands, and that global privacy standards would be lowered.