Passengers stay calm despite chaos at UK airports

LONDON, Aug 10 (Reuters) Chaos reigned at British airports crammed with holidaymakers today as airlines cancelled flights and brought in drastic security measures to thwart what police said was a plot to blow up several aircraft in flight.

But while departure halls were jammed with people, hand luggage and liquids banned from flights and passengers with babies made to publicly taste their food, the mood was one of calm resignation.

''It's just part of travel today. It's just something you have to do and there's always a risk, and if they're increasing security this much, we're probably safer than usual,'' said Dale Rosser, 57, queuing at Heathrow to fly back to Michigan.

Hotels around Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, were booked solid as short-haul flights were cancelled.

At Terminal One there was a queue more than 100 metres (yards) long of people trying to find accommodation further afield.

''Nobody seemed to know what was going on. These was no communication in the airport. But it is your life you are looking at. They are doing the best they can,'' said Sebastian Hover, 33, trying to get to Warsaw from Bristol.

Bars and coffee shops did booming business, with Terminal One bar manager Simon Bell saying more was expected tomorrow as people returned to try to resume their journeys.

''We were frantically busy in the first three hours but it has calmed down a bit now. We have ordered in emergency supplies for tomorrow,'' he said.

Matters were not helped by confusing instructions, with some people forced to throw away books they had bought.

''I have got my computer and I have got liquor and I just heard five minutes ago I won't be able to take it on. Where should I put them?'' asked transit passenger Timo Haikonen, 57, on his way to holiday in Chicago from Helsinki.

As passengers neared the front of a security check queue at Terminal Three, one of the main departure points for flights to the United States, an official told them: ''No drink, no books, no chewing gum and no food,'' without offering any explanation.

''I am just going to be really bored on the plane because I have got nothing to do,'' complained 10-year-old Stephanie Sheldon, queuing moodily with her parents on the way from Birmingham to holiday in Miami.

While Heathrow was the worst hit, there were similar scenes at major airports across the country.

Manchester airport, another major departure point for the United States, experienced severe delays. At Stansted airport, north of London, there were considerable delays to flights and 40 were cancelled.

But phlegmatic passengers said the inconvenience of a delay was a small price to pay for their safety.

''The initial plan was foiled. We are glad that security took care of that and we are just happy to be alive,'' said Heathrow passenger Blair Ahearn, 47, from near Chicago. ''It could be much worse than a crowded airport and long lines.'' REUTERS MQA RAI2236