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| Runway protest strands passengers | Runway protest strands passengers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Flights have been disrupted and passengers left stranded at Stansted airport after a climate change protest caused the runway to be closed. | Flights have been disrupted and passengers left stranded at Stansted airport after a climate change protest caused the runway to be closed. |
| Ryanair has cancelled 52 flights and told passengers to re-book, but it has warned that availability is limited in the coming days. | Ryanair has cancelled 52 flights and told passengers to re-book, but it has warned that availability is limited in the coming days. |
| Other flights are also delayed after the action by group Plane Stupid. | Other flights are also delayed after the action by group Plane Stupid. |
| Airport operator BAA said the protest was "unlawful" and "unacceptable". Essex Police have made 57 arrests. | Airport operator BAA said the protest was "unlawful" and "unacceptable". Essex Police have made 57 arrests. |
| A spokeswoman said 50 people were accused of aggravated trespass, three of attempting to gain access to a restricted area, and four of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. In the modern world we live in, people want to travel Vivienne Brinton, stranded passenger class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7771156.stm">Demo leaves passengers angry class="" href="/1/hi/world/7770513.stm">Stansted protest cancels flights class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5771&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| Nick Barton, BAA's commercial director at Stansted, told BBC Radio 4 he hoped the airport would be able to "recover quite well" from the impact of the protest, but admitted delays were likely for the rest of the day. | Nick Barton, BAA's commercial director at Stansted, told BBC Radio 4 he hoped the airport would be able to "recover quite well" from the impact of the protest, but admitted delays were likely for the rest of the day. |
| Passengers due to travel on Monday are being advised to contact their airline before setting out. | Passengers due to travel on Monday are being advised to contact their airline before setting out. |
| Ryanair called for an investigation into why BAA had failed to keep the airport "secure and open", saying the disruption to passengers was "unacceptable". | |
| Plane Stupid began its protest at 0315 GMT and said it was intended to draw attention to CO2 emissions from the aviation industry. | Plane Stupid began its protest at 0315 GMT and said it was intended to draw attention to CO2 emissions from the aviation industry. |
| Mr Barton said he believed the protesters had arrived in a number of vehicles including an old fire engine. | Mr Barton said he believed the protesters had arrived in a number of vehicles including an old fire engine. |
| One of the activists taking part, Lily Kember, 21, said they had then forced their way in using bolt-cutters.Plane Stupid apologised for disrupting individual journeys | |
| The BBC's Stephen Chittenden, at Stansted, said they had brought concrete blocks and 6ft-high security fencing with them and erected a "stockade" about 50m (164ft) from the runway. They then chained themselves to the fencing. | The BBC's Stephen Chittenden, at Stansted, said they had brought concrete blocks and 6ft-high security fencing with them and erected a "stockade" about 50m (164ft) from the runway. They then chained themselves to the fencing. |
| The runway was closed for about two hours and reopened at 0810 GMT after police removed the protesters. | |
| Flights resumed immediately, but long queues quickly built up in the terminal. | Flights resumed immediately, but long queues quickly built up in the terminal. |
| Passengers were handed printed sheets explaining the reasons for the delay and police helped staff to deal with queries. | Passengers were handed printed sheets explaining the reasons for the delay and police helped staff to deal with queries. |
| Anita Kelleher had been due to fly to the Irish Republic to attend her father's funeral, but her flight was cancelled. | Anita Kelleher had been due to fly to the Irish Republic to attend her father's funeral, but her flight was cancelled. |
| "His funeral is tonight, the Rosary is tonight. I've missed being at my dad's Rosary tonight and I'm heartbroken," she told the BBC. | "His funeral is tonight, the Rosary is tonight. I've missed being at my dad's Rosary tonight and I'm heartbroken," she told the BBC. |
| Protester Lily Kember says 'people need to take responsibility' over climate change | |
| Another passenger, Vivienne Brinton, had been due to fly to her second home in France. | Another passenger, Vivienne Brinton, had been due to fly to her second home in France. |
| She said: "I suppose people will have some sympathy with the protesters, but in the modern world we live in, people want to travel." | She said: "I suppose people will have some sympathy with the protesters, but in the modern world we live in, people want to travel." |
| Nicola Hilda and a friend had been supposed to travel to Bremen in Germany for a day trip, but their flight was also cancelled. | Nicola Hilda and a friend had been supposed to travel to Bremen in Germany for a day trip, but their flight was also cancelled. |
| "We've saved up for it for months and months and we're just thoroughly disappointed," she said. | "We've saved up for it for months and months and we're just thoroughly disappointed," she said. |
| BAA said it would investigate the break-in and, where necessary, learn lessons from it. | BAA said it would investigate the break-in and, where necessary, learn lessons from it. |
| "We respect people's right to protest within the bonds of the law," it said in a statement. | "We respect people's right to protest within the bonds of the law," it said in a statement. |
| "However any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport is unacceptable." | "However any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport is unacceptable." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman told a media briefing: "Of course everybody has a right to protest, but people also have a right to be able to travel without unnecessary hindrance." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman told a media briefing: "Of course everybody has a right to protest, but people also have a right to be able to travel without unnecessary hindrance." |
| In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted airport were given the go-ahead by the government. | In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted airport were given the go-ahead by the government. |
| Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. | Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. |