Local passengers travelling on the only flight leaving Northern Ireland yesterday to the United States managed to make their journey without delay despite serious disruption to US-bound flights around the world following the attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day.

The Continental Airlines flight from Belfast International to Newark Airport left on time despite additional security screenings at the gate and hand luggage restrictions.

Passengers are now allowed just one piece of hand luggage on flights and must face extra security checks after the bomb bid on a Detroit-bound plane.