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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Flight delays at Dublin airport | Flight delays at Dublin airport |
| (1 day later) | |
| There are long delays on flights at Dublin International Airport after an air traffic control system broke down earlier. | There are long delays on flights at Dublin International Airport after an air traffic control system broke down earlier. |
| Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International and Aer Lingus and Ryanair have now cancelled all but a handful of flights. | Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International and Aer Lingus and Ryanair have now cancelled all but a handful of flights. |
| It is not yet known how long it will take to clear the backlog. | It is not yet known how long it will take to clear the backlog. |
| Passengers have been told to check flight details before setting out. | Passengers have been told to check flight details before setting out. |
| Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airport should have had a contingency plan in place. | Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airport should have had a contingency plan in place. |
| "The issues with radar equipment at Dublin have been known for some weeks and it is unacceptable that there is no contingency or back-up plan," he said. | "The issues with radar equipment at Dublin have been known for some weeks and it is unacceptable that there is no contingency or back-up plan," he said. |
| "The IAA needs to explain to passenger why flights are being delayed today by up to 5 hours, with many more cancelled." | "The IAA needs to explain to passenger why flights are being delayed today by up to 5 hours, with many more cancelled." |
| The Irish Aviation Authority took the decision to cancel flights after suffering chronic breakdowns of their radar screens. | The Irish Aviation Authority took the decision to cancel flights after suffering chronic breakdowns of their radar screens. |
| The airport was shut down at about 1400 BST on Wednesday because air traffic controllers could not see the codes used to label incoming aircraft. | The airport was shut down at about 1400 BST on Wednesday because air traffic controllers could not see the codes used to label incoming aircraft. |
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| Reaction to the problem from passengers in Dublin and those diverted to Belfast International Airport | Reaction to the problem from passengers in Dublin and those diverted to Belfast International Airport |
| IAA spokeswoman Lilian Cassin said the fault was first reported at 1145 BST on Wednesday and it was fully functioning 10 minutes later, but the system failed a second time. | IAA spokeswoman Lilian Cassin said the fault was first reported at 1145 BST on Wednesday and it was fully functioning 10 minutes later, but the system failed a second time. |
| Ms Cassin said air traffic controllers have experienced similar problems over the last four to five weeks, but that Wednesday's malfunction was the longest period the code system had failed. | Ms Cassin said air traffic controllers have experienced similar problems over the last four to five weeks, but that Wednesday's malfunction was the longest period the code system had failed. |
| She revealed that IAA engineers were working on site, alongside a team from Thales - the French company which supplied the system - and Hewlett-Packard. | She revealed that IAA engineers were working on site, alongside a team from Thales - the French company which supplied the system - and Hewlett-Packard. |
| "Engineers haven't been able to exactly pinpoint what the problem is," she added. | "Engineers haven't been able to exactly pinpoint what the problem is," she added. |
| "We want to be satisfied ourselves before we go back to operating." | "We want to be satisfied ourselves before we go back to operating." |