ashley
08-10-2006, 06:48 AM
Filipinos traveling to London face long delay
The Philippine embassy in London advised Filipinos traveling to the United Kingdom Thursday to check with their airlines first to avoid inconveniences after British authorities closed down major UK airport following an anti-terror operation.
"We will come out with an advisory granted that it is very necessary in the course of the day," Consul General Mario de Leon told DZMM.
De Leon said that since all incoming flights to London's Heathrow airport were cancelled, passengers " will most likely face long delay in their connecting flights."
The consul general said that all flights to Heathrow were cancelled after British authorities foiled an attempt of suspected terrorists to blow up several transatlantic flights between the United States and the UK.
"Security measures are strict. Hand-carried baggage should be checked in. Only wallets, travel documents, prescription medicines and maybe infant milk formula are allowed," de Leon said.
He said that at least 18 people were arrested but authorities have yet to release their identities.
"So far that is all that we know. They are not yet disclosing [information] at this point," he said when asked about the names and nationalities of the arrested suspects. He added that the embassy is continuously monitoring developments.
A number of foreign-based carriers operate direct and shared flights from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Heathrow.
An initial advisory by the ABS-CBN News bureau in London, meanwhile, said tension was mounting in Filipino communities in the city.
An estimated 120,000 Filipinos live and work in the UK.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=47038
The Philippine embassy in London advised Filipinos traveling to the United Kingdom Thursday to check with their airlines first to avoid inconveniences after British authorities closed down major UK airport following an anti-terror operation.
"We will come out with an advisory granted that it is very necessary in the course of the day," Consul General Mario de Leon told DZMM.
De Leon said that since all incoming flights to London's Heathrow airport were cancelled, passengers " will most likely face long delay in their connecting flights."
The consul general said that all flights to Heathrow were cancelled after British authorities foiled an attempt of suspected terrorists to blow up several transatlantic flights between the United States and the UK.
"Security measures are strict. Hand-carried baggage should be checked in. Only wallets, travel documents, prescription medicines and maybe infant milk formula are allowed," de Leon said.
He said that at least 18 people were arrested but authorities have yet to release their identities.
"So far that is all that we know. They are not yet disclosing [information] at this point," he said when asked about the names and nationalities of the arrested suspects. He added that the embassy is continuously monitoring developments.
A number of foreign-based carriers operate direct and shared flights from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Heathrow.
An initial advisory by the ABS-CBN News bureau in London, meanwhile, said tension was mounting in Filipino communities in the city.
An estimated 120,000 Filipinos live and work in the UK.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=47038