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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Safety row disrupts more flights | Safety row disrupts more flights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nine air operators have either cancelled or diverted flights from Bristol Airport as a row over runway safety continues. | |
| Easyjet withdrew its planes on Friday over concerns its planes skid when landing in wet weather. | |
| Airport bosses have insisted the runway has a "clean bill of health" from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and it will remain open. | Airport bosses have insisted the runway has a "clean bill of health" from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and it will remain open. |
| Flights are being diverted to Cardiff or are flying from Birmingham. | |
| A total of 98 flights are being diverted while 28 flights have been cancelled. | |
| The affected airlines are: Easyjet, BA Connect, XL, Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook, Balkan Airlines, First Choice, Air Malta and SN Brussels. | |
| Passengers on nearly 40 Easyjet flights on Saturday are being transferred to Cardiff airport, while all the other services by the firm have been cancelled. | Passengers on nearly 40 Easyjet flights on Saturday are being transferred to Cardiff airport, while all the other services by the firm have been cancelled. |
| We're working very very closely with our engineering team...to make sure that we can bring services back to normal Tony Horwood, Bristol Airport | We're working very very closely with our engineering team...to make sure that we can bring services back to normal Tony Horwood, Bristol Airport |
| All Thomas Cook and First Choice flights have been moved to Birmingham Airport. Passengers are advised to check-in at Bristol as normal, where they will then be transferred to Birmingham. | |
| Peter Philips, spokesman for Cardiff Airport, described the scene at Cardiff Airport as like a "busy summer's day" and said that diverted flights were being delayed by just over an hour on average, because of the need to bring passengers by coach. | |
| Around 5,000 extra passengers were due to use the airport on Saturday and Mr Phillips said he expected the arrangements to remain in place until Monday at least. | |
| The row developed after £17m of resurfacing work on the runway. | |
| Tony Hallwood, the airport's Aviation Development Director, said: "Over the past 24 hours we have been working with our airline partners to find an acceptable way forward. | |
| "We wish to reassure passengers that every effort is being made to ensure to that a normal service is resumed at Bristol International as soon as possible. | |
| "The safety of our passengers is, as always, of paramount concern." | |
| 'Runway grooved' | 'Runway grooved' |
| Easyjet said it is concerned grooves have not been cut in to the new surface of the runway, which has affected braking distances of planes. | |
| One pilot, speaking to BBC News anonymously, said the situation at the airport had been known of for some time. | One pilot, speaking to BBC News anonymously, said the situation at the airport had been known of for some time. |
| "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." |
| A number of planes were diverted to Cardiff at the end of 2006 after three aircraft took longer to stop than normal, it emerged. | A number of planes were diverted to Cardiff at the end of 2006 after three aircraft took longer to stop than normal, it emerged. |
| Mr Hallwood said they are working to make the runway acceptable for the airlines. | |
| "The runway is presently grooved, there are just certain areas where we need to maybe look at enhancing that grooving and we're working very very closely with our engineering team and the contractors on site to make sure that we can bring services back to normal," he said. | "The runway is presently grooved, there are just certain areas where we need to maybe look at enhancing that grooving and we're working very very closely with our engineering team and the contractors on site to make sure that we can bring services back to normal," he said. |
Have you been affected by the closure of Bristol airport? Have bad weather conditions delayed your flight? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by the closure of Bristol airport? Have bad weather conditions delayed your flight? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |