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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Delays continue at Dublin airport | Delays continue at Dublin airport |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Further disruption is expected at Dublin Airport because of a problem with the air traffic control radar system on Wednesday. | Further disruption is expected at Dublin Airport because of a problem with the air traffic control radar system on Wednesday. |
| Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International Airport and scores were delayed or cancelled. | Several flights had to be diverted to Belfast International Airport and scores were delayed or cancelled. |
| Airlines are now working to clear a backlog of passengers waiting to travel. | Airlines are now working to clear a backlog of passengers waiting to travel. |
| Aer Lingus has urged people not to come to the airport if they do not have a confirmed booking. | Aer Lingus has urged people not to come to the airport if they do not have a confirmed booking. |
| "The problem we've got this morning is, given the very large number of displaced passengers yesterday (Wednesday), all our flights today are going virtually full," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion. | "The problem we've got this morning is, given the very large number of displaced passengers yesterday (Wednesday), all our flights today are going virtually full," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion. |
| "It's going to be extremely busy and difficult to get away. But passengers with confirmed bookings, we would ask them to check in as normal." | "It's going to be extremely busy and difficult to get away. But passengers with confirmed bookings, we would ask them to check in as normal." |
| Irish Aviation Authority spokeswoman Lillian 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. | Irish Aviation Authority spokeswoman Lillian 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. |
| "Obviously, it's not acceptable and that's why every effort has been made to identify the problem and we're confident now we have identified the problem in conjunction with the manufacturers of this air traffic system," she said. | "Obviously, it's not acceptable and that's why every effort has been made to identify the problem and we're confident now we have identified the problem in conjunction with the manufacturers of this air traffic system," she said. |
| "So again I have to emphasise the system is safe, the system is stable. | |
| "Our normal rate is 25 departures an hour. We are now operating at about 20 departures an hour." | |
| But Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary has rubbished claims that the airport was returning to normal. | |
| He said that although the first wave of flights went out on time, people were now experiencing delays of up to a couple of hours. | |
| "What happens if you start taking those sort of delays is that it builds up very rapidly, the system backs up and we think it will collapse again," he said. | |
| "The system clearly isn't fixed, if it was fixed it would be operating at full capacity." | |
| 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 |