The airline announced the suspension following talks with British government transport safety experts, who had received what they describe as "credible intelligence of a serious threat" to British aviation.

British Airways spokesmen would not elaborate on the specifics of the threats. But in recent days Saudi Arabia has been cracking down on suspected militants of the al-Qaida terrorist network.

Saudi Arabia has been on heightened alert since a series of suicide bombings in May killed more than 30 people in the capital, Riyadh.

British Airways normally flies four times a week to Riyadh and Jeddah. It canceled the day's flights following the announcement.

Since the bombings in May, the British Foreign Office has warned British citizens not to visit the kingdom except for essential business. About 30,000 Britons work in Saudi Arabia.


See also:

Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles Updated March 25, 2003