An airline is calling for flights to be cancelled at Gatwick during the busy bank holiday weekend to avoid travel chaos.

Crawley-based Virgin Atlantic claims security restrictions introduced after a failed terrorist plot to blow up airliners will make it impossible for Gatwick to handle the weekend smoothly.

Chief executive, Steve Ridgway wants the airport authority BAA to cap the number of flights.

He said: "I think the issue going forward is that BAA don't appear to believe they can cope.

"They've got to get on top of things so that they can manage it properly. If they can't there needs to be an early system with the airlines, and it's got to be equitable, measurable and enforceable."

BAA claims it will be able to handle the extra traffic.

A spokesman said: "We are planning to run a full schedule at all our UK airports. We had a pretty good service last weekend even though it was busy."

Thursday, August 24, 2006