BA flight to Washington delayed for fifth day running

British Airways’ BA223 flight from Heathrow to Washington DC was delayed for a third day running yesterday over terrorism fears.

Around 200 passengers were left to sit in the aircraft at Heathrow while BA waited for clearance for the flight from the US authorities.

This particular flight one of three BA operates daily to the US capital was cancelled on both January 1 and 2, and took off around three hours late on both January 3 and 4.

"We had hoped to take off on time at 3.15pm but now we are waiting for the word from the Americans," said a BA spokeswoman.

The US authorities have cited specific terrorism threats as the reason for the continued disruption to this particular service.

The delay came as the concern over the US insistence on the use of armed sky marshals on some transatlantic flights grew yesterday.

One UK holiday airline, Thomas Cook Airlines, said it would refuse to operate flights if sky marshals were put on board.

The move by the carrier, whose destinations include the Florida resorts of Orlando and Miami, came ahead of a crucial meeting today when the airline pilots' union Balpa will press the British government for an all-embracing agreement on the use of sky marshals.

As Balpa met British Airways yesterday to discuss the sky marshal initiative, two Government ministers defended the disruption to transatlantic flights due to terrorism fears.

One of the ministers Transport Secretary Alistair Darling will meet Balpa officials today over the sky marshals controversy.

Yesterday Mr Darling dismissed as "complete rubbish" a suggestion that transatlantic flights had been grounded to force BA to accept sky marshals.

Thomas Cook Airlines, which also flies within US airspace while operating to the Caribbean yesterday had talks with Balpa, which has been angered by the US authorities' insistence on the use of sky marshals.

A Thomas Cook Airlines spokesman said: "For the time being, if a sky marshal presents himself, we will cancel the flight. Like Balpa, we want to see captains remain in full control of the aircraft at all times." The airline flies to Florida from Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow airports.

Balpa has already reached agreement with one transatlantic carrier Virgin Atlantic on the way sky marshals should be deployed.

A Balpa spokesman said tonight: "We want an over-arching agreement with the Government covering the use of air marshals on all airlines."