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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Flights grounded at city airport | Flights grounded at city airport |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| All Easyjet flights scheduled to depart from Bristol International Airport on Friday morning have been cancelled. | All Easyjet flights scheduled to depart from Bristol International Airport on Friday morning have been cancelled. |
| More than a dozen flights have been affected after the budget airline raised concerns about skidding when landing in wet weather. | More than a dozen flights have been affected after the budget airline raised concerns about skidding when landing in wet weather. |
| Other flights are unaffected and BA, KLM, Ryanair and Air Lingus have not cancelled any departures. | |
| The airport said safety was paramount and that it is reviewing the situation on the status of the runway surface. | The airport said safety was paramount and that it is reviewing the situation on the status of the runway surface. |
| A passenger has reported that a pilot announced to the cabin that they could not take off because the runway was unsafe and too slippery. | A passenger has reported that a pilot announced to the cabin that they could not take off because the runway was unsafe and too slippery. |
| The runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesman | The runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesman |
| And 10 planes were diverted to Cardiff Airport on 30 December after three planes came off the runway at Bristol, it has emerged. | And 10 planes were diverted to Cardiff Airport on 30 December after three planes came off the runway at Bristol, it has emerged. |
| A pilot, speaking to BBC News anonymously, added: "It has been like this for six to eight weeks. | A pilot, speaking to BBC News anonymously, added: "It has been like this for six to eight weeks. |
| "I've landed in wet weather, put the brakes on and come to the bit that is being re-surfaced, and just skated across it - we actually speeded up. When it is wet, you have no grip." | "I've landed in wet weather, put the brakes on and come to the bit that is being re-surfaced, and just skated across it - we actually speeded up. When it is wet, you have no grip." |
| Easyjet spokesman Toby Nicol said the company would not run flights from Bristol while the runway was wet, and was moving its Bristol operations to another airport on Friday afternoon. | Easyjet spokesman Toby Nicol said the company would not run flights from Bristol while the runway was wet, and was moving its Bristol operations to another airport on Friday afternoon. |
| "Any rain over the weekend will prevent flights from Bristol," he said. | "Any rain over the weekend will prevent flights from Bristol," he said. |
| "Bristol airport has been laying a new runway and what they have not had a chance to do is cut grooves into the surface. | "Bristol airport has been laying a new runway and what they have not had a chance to do is cut grooves into the surface. |
| "We have found that this is having an effect on braking distances on the runway in wet weather. | "We have found that this is having an effect on braking distances on the runway in wet weather. |
| "The safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft is Easyjet's first priority and this decision has been taken following discussions with Bristol Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority. | "The safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft is Easyjet's first priority and this decision has been taken following discussions with Bristol Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority. |
| Travellers are experiencing delays | Travellers are experiencing delays |
| "Customers are entitled to a refund of the fare paid or a free transfer on to another Easyjet flight within the next month." | "Customers are entitled to a refund of the fare paid or a free transfer on to another Easyjet flight within the next month." |
| Ryanair told the BBC it had experienced no problems at the airport and was unaware of any concerns. BA would not comment further. | Ryanair told the BBC it had experienced no problems at the airport and was unaware of any concerns. BA would not comment further. |
| Bristol Airport's operations director, Paul Davies, said: "Easyjet's decision has been made based on a number of factors including information passed to the airline by the airport on the condition of the runway surface. | Bristol Airport's operations director, Paul Davies, said: "Easyjet's decision has been made based on a number of factors including information passed to the airline by the airport on the condition of the runway surface. |
| "Their decision to temporarily suspend flights in wet conditions is based on operational conditions within which its aircraft can operate. | "Their decision to temporarily suspend flights in wet conditions is based on operational conditions within which its aircraft can operate. |
| "Information on the status of the runway is regularly passed to all airlines as part of the airport's standard operational procedures." | "Information on the status of the runway is regularly passed to all airlines as part of the airport's standard operational procedures." |
| In December, a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny with 52 passengers on board, ended up on the safety zone at the end of the runway after landing at Bristol. | In December, a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny with 52 passengers on board, ended up on the safety zone at the end of the runway after landing at Bristol. |
| 'Diverting flights' | 'Diverting flights' |
| And an Easyjet flight from Malaga has also recently strayed on to the safety area at Bristol while taxiing. | And an Easyjet flight from Malaga has also recently strayed on to the safety area at Bristol while taxiing. |
| The Easyjet spokesman added: "The runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding. | The Easyjet spokesman added: "The runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding. |
| "We are looking at the option of diverting some of our flights to Cardiff or Birmingham airports." | "We are looking at the option of diverting some of our flights to Cardiff or Birmingham airports." |
| Barcelona, Prague and Newcastle are among the routes served by Easyjet from Bristol. | Barcelona, Prague and Newcastle are among the routes served by Easyjet from Bristol. |
| In October, the airport announced its £17m runway resurfacing plans, scheduled to last five months. | In October, the airport announced its £17m runway resurfacing plans, scheduled to last five months. |
| Carl Lapworth, head of engineering at the airport, said at the time: "The resurfacing of the runway has been planned very carefully, taking into account the needs of the airport, local communities and the authorities." | Carl Lapworth, head of engineering at the airport, said at the time: "The resurfacing of the runway has been planned very carefully, taking into account the needs of the airport, local communities and the authorities." |
| Customers due to fly with Easyjet have been advised to call the company on 08712 442366, or visit its website. | Customers due to fly with Easyjet have been advised to call the company on 08712 442366, or visit its website. |