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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hopes for end to airport boycott | Hopes for end to airport boycott |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bristol Airport managers are hoping flights will resume later after airlines boycotted it amid fears over the safety of a refurbished runway. | Bristol Airport managers are hoping flights will resume later after airlines boycotted it amid fears over the safety of a refurbished runway. |
| Ten airlines cancelled or diverted flights after claims aircraft had skidded on landing in wet conditions. | |
| A total of 385 flights and 25,000 passengers have been affected since the dispute began on Friday. | |
| The runway was closed overnight for work on runway drainage systems so flights could resume on Monday. | The runway was closed overnight for work on runway drainage systems so flights could resume on Monday. |
| No CAA objection | No CAA objection |
| A spokesman said "in a best case scenario" the runway would re-open at lunchtime on Monday. | A spokesman said "in a best case scenario" the runway would re-open at lunchtime on Monday. |
| In a statement, Bristol Airport said: "Detailed assessment has been made on Sunday morning on the impact of additional grooving on test strips of the temporary surface, which were put in place during the resurfacing work over the last two nights. | In a statement, Bristol Airport said: "Detailed assessment has been made on Sunday morning on the impact of additional grooving on test strips of the temporary surface, which were put in place during the resurfacing work over the last two nights. |
| "These have proved satisfactory in terms of further increasing the drainage of surface water on the temporary sections of the runway which is in the process of being resurfaced." | "These have proved satisfactory in terms of further increasing the drainage of surface water on the temporary sections of the runway which is in the process of being resurfaced." |
| Airport 'confident' | Airport 'confident' |
| The airport added the CAA had confirmed it had no objection to the proposed additional grooving work to be undertaken. | The airport added the CAA had confirmed it had no objection to the proposed additional grooving work to be undertaken. |
| A spokesman said: "We are confident that for those airlines which have suspended their operations at Bristol International Airport, this will address their concerns and allow them to resume operations at the airport." | A spokesman said: "We are confident that for those airlines which have suspended their operations at Bristol International Airport, this will address their concerns and allow them to resume operations at the airport." |
| Problems began on Friday after Easyjet raised concerns over the safety of the new £17m resurfaced runway. | Problems began on Friday after Easyjet raised concerns over the safety of the new £17m resurfaced runway. |
| It withdrew services amid fears planes were skidding when landing in wet weather, affecting braking distances. | It withdrew services amid fears planes were skidding when landing in wet weather, affecting braking distances. |
| When runways are re-surfaced airlines often impose their own restrictions on their landing and take-off procedures. | When runways are re-surfaced airlines often impose their own restrictions on their landing and take-off procedures. |
| These allow for continuing safe operation at airports while sections of the runway are re-surfaced. Each airline may have different operating standards. | These allow for continuing safe operation at airports while sections of the runway are re-surfaced. Each airline may have different operating standards. |
| 'Runway safe' | 'Runway safe' |
| On Saturday, 98 flights from Easyjet, BA Connect, XL, Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook, Balkan Airlines, First Choice, Air Malta, KLM and SN Brussels were diverted and 28 were cancelled. | On Saturday, 98 flights from Easyjet, BA Connect, XL, Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook, Balkan Airlines, First Choice, Air Malta, KLM and SN Brussels were diverted and 28 were cancelled. |
| Around 7,000 extra passengers were diverted to Cardiff Airport on Saturday while other flights departed from Birmingham. | Around 7,000 extra passengers were diverted to Cardiff Airport on Saturday while other flights departed from Birmingham. |
| Astreus, Aer Arran, Ryanair, Air South West, Aurigny, Continental and Flybe carried on using the airport. | Astreus, Aer Arran, Ryanair, Air South West, Aurigny, Continental and Flybe carried on using the airport. |
| A spokeswoman for XL Airways said: "This is good news and we are looking forward to getting back into Bristol as soon as the modifications are made because we want people flying from their local airport." | A spokeswoman for XL Airways said: "This is good news and we are looking forward to getting back into Bristol as soon as the modifications are made because we want people flying from their local airport." |
| Easyjet, which cancelled or diverted all its flights on Sunday, has cancelled 40% of Monday's flights at Bristol with the remainder diverted to use Cardiff. | Easyjet, which cancelled or diverted all its flights on Sunday, has cancelled 40% of Monday's flights at Bristol with the remainder diverted to use Cardiff. |
| Passengers are advised they must still check in at Bristol Airport where they will then be transferred to Cardiff as Easyjet do not have any check-in facilities at this airport. | Passengers are advised they must still check in at Bristol Airport where they will then be transferred to Cardiff as Easyjet do not have any check-in facilities at this airport. |
| Other passengers have been advised to contact their travel agent or airlines direct, or check the airport's website. | Other passengers have been advised to contact their travel agent or airlines direct, or check the airport's website. |