More flights cancelled after threats

Air passengers face further disruption today because of a "credible" threat to air travel by al Qaeda.

British Airways and Air France have grounded specific flights to and from Washington on advice from the United States.

Both carriers, together with Continental Airlines, also grounded flights yesterday. US officials believe the terrorist group is again trying to target international flights.

The cancelled British Airways services are flight 223 from Heathrow to Washington, and the return flight 222. Air France has grounded the Paris to Washington 026 service, and the return flight 027.

BA flight number 223 was the subject of concern earlier last month, when it was cancelled twice because of security fears and then delayed for hours several more times.

Intelligence sources say that al Qaeda agents are interested in either attacking a passenger compartment-with a suicide bomber or planting a radiological "dirty bomb'' in the hold of a British or French transatlantic flight.

Yesterday's cancelled Continental Airlines flight from Washington was due to land in Houston at the same time as the Superbowl was being played in the city in front of 100,000 football fans.

It was the first time since the September 11 attacks that the US has grounded an internal flight.

An earlier Continental flight from Glasgow to Los Angeles, with a stop in Newark, was also cancelled.