[ QUOTE ]
Monday, June 14, 2004 Posted: 6:44 AM EDT (1044 GMT)
LONDON, England (AP) -- British Airways PLC flight crews will no longer stay overnight in Saudi Arabia because of security problems there, said the airline.
Following a rash of attacks on Westerners, the carrier said it was eliminating until further notice its eight direct flights per week from London to Riyadh and Jeddah, routing them via Kuwait City instead so staff do not have to stay over in Saudi Arabia.
Crews will disembark and spend the night in Kuwait City, said Richard Goodfellow, a BA spokesman. He said fresh crews will board there for the short flight to Saudi Arabia, where they will stop briefly before returning to London on the carrier's direct flights, which will continue from both Riyadh and Jeddah.
The change came into effect Wednesday, Goodfellow said.
"We felt it was prudent at this stage to make these changes, the safety and security of our employees and our customers is absolutely paramount and will not be compromised," he said.
He said the new flight patterns would remain in place indefinitely while the airline keeps the Saudi security situation under review.
Islamic militants have carried out a series of attacks on Westerners, government targets and economic interests in the kingdom during the past 13 months. The government has blamed the attacks on people inspired by, or belonging to, the al-Qaida terror network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Last week a British Broadcasting Corp. cameraman from Ireland was shot to death in the country and a BBC reporter was badly injured. On Saturday, an American was killed and another was apparently abducted in Riyadh.
Authorities believe the campaign of violence is aimed at driving out foreigners and disrupting the vital oil sector.
[/ QUOTE ]
I wonder what this is costing the airline ?
Monday, June 14, 2004 Posted: 6:44 AM EDT (1044 GMT)
LONDON, England (AP) -- British Airways PLC flight crews will no longer stay overnight in Saudi Arabia because of security problems there, said the airline.
Following a rash of attacks on Westerners, the carrier said it was eliminating until further notice its eight direct flights per week from London to Riyadh and Jeddah, routing them via Kuwait City instead so staff do not have to stay over in Saudi Arabia.
Crews will disembark and spend the night in Kuwait City, said Richard Goodfellow, a BA spokesman. He said fresh crews will board there for the short flight to Saudi Arabia, where they will stop briefly before returning to London on the carrier's direct flights, which will continue from both Riyadh and Jeddah.
The change came into effect Wednesday, Goodfellow said.
"We felt it was prudent at this stage to make these changes, the safety and security of our employees and our customers is absolutely paramount and will not be compromised," he said.
He said the new flight patterns would remain in place indefinitely while the airline keeps the Saudi security situation under review.
Islamic militants have carried out a series of attacks on Westerners, government targets and economic interests in the kingdom during the past 13 months. The government has blamed the attacks on people inspired by, or belonging to, the al-Qaida terror network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Last week a British Broadcasting Corp. cameraman from Ireland was shot to death in the country and a BBC reporter was badly injured. On Saturday, an American was killed and another was apparently abducted in Riyadh.
Authorities believe the campaign of violence is aimed at driving out foreigners and disrupting the vital oil sector.
[/ QUOTE ]
I wonder what this is costing the airline ?
