Chaos at London's three main airports entered sixth day, when many passengers are still enduring cancellations and delays, as 10,000 bags are piled up at airports and airliners threat to sue for compensation.

Airport operator BAA had hoped that the Government decision to allow hand luggage back on flights would mean an end to the travel misery.

However, while most airports have reported business as usual, 45 flights were cancelled at Heathrow.

British Airways had to cancel 41 flights at Heathrow and 11 at Gatwick, while budget airline Ryanair scrapped eight services at Stansted.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said his airline may sue BAA for compensation.

Walsh said, "Since 9/11, everyone in the industry has known there might be times when extra security measures needed to be put in place. "Yet when the moment struck, BAA had no plan ready to keep Heathrow functioning properly. The queues for security have wound all around the terminals like a bad dream at Disneyland."

It is thought that BA was forced to cancel Tuesday's flights as it was not told early enough on Monday by BAA that a normal service could be resumed.

Ryanair blamed Tuesday's problems on "BAA's chronic inability to staff their Stansted security facilities, combined with nonsensical hand baggage restrictions".

A Ryanair spokesman said: "The chaotic scenes at Stansted Airport show that there is no foundation to BAA CEO Stephen Nelson 's claim that staffing is not a problem."

It is said that 10,000 bags checked in by British Airways passengers have gone missing at airports since the security alert began last Friday.

Half of the bags piled up at airports waiting to be delivered back to their owners.

BAA has said searches mean delays are likely to continue, saying that anyone travelling over the next few days should allow extra time for their journey.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)