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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.
Fifteen flights have been affected, but the company says passengers are entitled to a refund. Fifteen flights have been affected after the budget airline raised concerns about skidding when landing in wet weather.
An Easyjet spokesman said: "We have cancelled flights following concerns over the reliability of the newly- resurfaced runway in wet weather." A spokesman said: "We have...concerns over the reliability of the newly resurfaced runway in wet weather."
The airport has refused to confirm this as the reason for the cancellations, but otherwise declined to comment.The airport has refused to confirm this as the reason for the cancellations, but otherwise declined to comment.
The low-cost carrier's spokesman added: "The safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft is Eeasyjet's first priority and this decision has been taken following extensive discussions with Bristol International Airport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority. However, a passenger reported a pilot announced to the cabin that they could not take off because the runway was unsafe and too slippery.
The low-cost carrier's spokesman added: "The safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft is Easyjet's first priority and this decision has been taken following extensive discussions with Bristol International Airport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesmanThe runway conditions are slick at present and we are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesman
"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."
Other flights from the airport are unaffected and neither BA nor Ryanair has cancelled any departures.Other flights from the airport are unaffected and neither BA nor Ryanair has cancelled any departures.
In December, a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny, with 52 passengers onboard, 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.
And an easyJet flight from Malaga has also recently strayed on to the safety areaat 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 weare 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 orBirmingham 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."