Ryanair fury at handling of terror crisis as airport chaos eases

Airports were almost back to normal today, but airline and travel industry anger continued at the way the security crisis has been handled.

Budget airline Ryanair, which had to cancel eight flights today at Stansted, accused airport operator BAA of “a chronic inability to staff security facilities”.

And British Airways said BAA's advice about today's flights had come too late to prevent it having to axe 41 flights at Heathrow.

BA also said that due to the disruption of the last few days, it was still trying to reunite 5,000 pieces of luggage with their owners.

Ryanair said only four out of 14 security points were manned at Stansted early today and said the "chaotic scenes" there showed there was “no foundation” in BAA claims that staffing was not a problem.

Ryanair called for the army or police to be brought into support BAA staff and said “common sense”should be introduced to searching and baggage regulations.