Security Scare Believed to Cost British Airways $190 Million

An August security scare that forced British Airways to call off hundreds of flights is set to cost it a figure in the neighborhood of $190 million, a newspaper reported earlier this week.

The Observer said a fall in the number of premium transatlantic travelers was behind the heavier cost, which the weekly said is set to cut BA’s half-yearly profit by as much as 10 percent.

BA had to cancel 1,280 flights in August after security at airports was tightened following a suspected plot to blow up airliners.

The airline had said in September that the scare had cost it $79 million in lost revenue, hotels, additional catering and sorting out lost luggage.

But this month BA said temporary security measures had also hit premium traffic in September as high-paying travelers were prevented from taking hand luggage on board flights.