The decision to stop flights came after talks between BA and the Department of Transport. A spokesman for the department said there was 'credible intelligence of a serious threat to UK aviation interests in the area'. The department had not ordered the company to stop flying to Saudi Arabia.

'As a matter of precaution we have decided to suspend all flights to Saudi Arabia for the time being and we will continue to liaise closely with the British government,' said Geoff Want, BA's director of safety and security.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it would contact British nationals in the Kingdom to inform them of the BA announcement via its warden network.