Business travellers are being warned to expect disruption to their travel plans after a weekend of chaos that saw an attempted terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport.
Police last Saturday night (30 June) were seen stopping cars on their way into London Heathrow, while up to 500 passengers from Liverpool John Lennon Airport were reportedly evacuated following a security alert.
An extraordinary weekend for British airports also rippled far beyond the United Kingdom as US airports equally took precautions, with American politicians taking to the airwaves to warn of potential heightened dangers.
Despite the fact that no fatalities occurred, Glasgow Airport, with a throughput of 32,000 passengers on Saturday, suffered massive delays and cancellations, although the main terminal was re-opened shortly afterwards.
All 64 check-in desks at both terminals are now processing passengers, with Glasgow Airport managing director, Gordon Dewar commenting: ”We have worked through the night to get Glasgow Airport back up and running, and get passengers to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible.
"With the support of police, our airline partners and BAA staff, we have been able to re-open the main terminal.”
Cars are reportedly being banned from approaching UK airport forecourts to drop off passengers, after the jeep in Glasgow attempted to ram the entrance to Glasgow Airport and subsequently burst into flames with purported gas canisters inside.
The dramatic developments follow the thwarted terrorist attacks in London the previous day, that saw two bomb-laden cars fail to detonate their deadly cargos, while the UK has transferred to status ”critical” that views an attack as ”imminent.”
Speculation remains rife as to any particular motive for the attack, but the acquisition of power by new UK and Scottish, prime minister, Gordon Brown, in addition to security chiefs” warnings that public places, including nightclubs, were under threat, would appear to point to a terrorist background, coupled with the upcoming anniversary of the 7/7 underground bombings.
Several key airports in the UK, notably Heathrow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Blackpool, have stepped up security, while appeals from the government have urged the public to retain a high level of vigilance.