Flight services 'back to normal'

Flight services are back to normal after Britain's busiest airport revealed all planes took off and arrived without being affected by severe delays or cancellations.

A total of 1,200 flights carried 172,000 passengers in and out of Heathrow on Saturday as the first full flight service ran smoothly since the introduction of strict new security measures.

A spokeswoman for the airport described the day as "a typical busy Saturday afternoon in August".

"The flight schedule has been running as normal. It has been busy but we are getting back to normal," she said.

At Gatwick the picture was similar with no flights being cancelled as a direct result of the new security measures and no severe delays for the first time since details of the terror plot emerged.

A spokeswoman for the airport said one flight had been scrapped but it was due to the high volume of passengers travelling during one of the busiest weekends of the year.

But British Airways advised passengers to still expect delays making their way through check-in.

She said passengers were beginning to understand the new requirements following the alleged transatlantic terror plot and were arriving at airports prepared.

The alleged plot involved plans to blow up US-bound transatlantic passenger jets in mid-flight using liquid-based explosive devices hidden in hand luggage.

It has led to the introduction of tough new security measures at airports, including restrictions on hand luggage size and bans on carrying most liquids and gels onto aircraft.