TEXT OF STORY

MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: The British Government has scaled down its terrorist threat assessment of British airports. Tight security was imposed last week following news of an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners. From London, Stephen Beard reports.

STEPHEN BEARD: The government has lowered the threat level from critical to severe. In other words, a terrorist attack is still likely, but no longer imminent.

Security restrictions have been eased a little. Passengers will now be allowed to take one item of hand luggage on board, but the ban on taking almost every kind of liquid through check-in remains, and there will still be more searching than usual.

The strict security caused many more flight delays and cancellations over the weekend.

Michael O’Leary of the low-cost carrier Ryanair says the security is still excessive.

MICHAEL O’LEARY: We’ve got to get the airports and the airlines back to normal as quickly as possible. We’ve got to prevent thousands of Britons from being stranded all over Europe because otherwise we hand these terrorists a success.

British Airways cut 20% of its flights out of Heathrow today and accused the airports of bungling, of adding to the congestion and delay.

In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.