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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
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| Flights cancelled in safety row | Flights cancelled in safety row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 80 flights in and out of Bristol International Airport have been cancelled or diverted in a row over runway safety. | More than 80 flights in and out of Bristol International Airport have been cancelled or diverted in a row over runway safety. |
| Easyjet would not fly in or out after raising concerns about its planes skidding when landing in wet weather. | Easyjet would not fly in or out after raising concerns about its planes skidding when landing in wet weather. |
| But Andrew Skipp, managing director of the airport, said the runway had been given a "clean bill of health" by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). | But Andrew Skipp, managing director of the airport, said the runway had been given a "clean bill of health" by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). |
| He said safety was paramount and insisted the airport would remain open. | He said safety was paramount and insisted the airport would remain open. |
| All Easyjet, Aer Lingus, XL Airways, Thomson and BA flights in and out of the airport were cancelled or diverted by late Friday afternoon. | All Easyjet, Aer Lingus, XL Airways, Thomson and BA flights in and out of the airport were cancelled or diverted by late Friday afternoon. |
| Around 7,000 Easyjet passengers were affected, and 500 BA passengers were bussed elsewhere. | |
| All BA Connect flights to and from the airport have also been cancelled over the weekend. | All BA Connect flights to and from the airport have also been cancelled over the weekend. |
| Easyjet spokesman Toby Nicol said safety was the company's first priority: "The airport has been laying a new runway and what they have not had a chance to do is cut grooves into the surface. | Easyjet spokesman Toby Nicol said safety was the company's first priority: "The airport has been laying a new runway and what they have not had a chance to do is cut grooves into the surface. |
| We are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesman Passengers' woes | We are not confident we can land our aircraft in wet weather without skidding Easyjet spokesman Passengers' woes |
| "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." |
| In October, the airport announced a £17m resurfacing scheme scheduled to last five months. | In October, the airport announced a £17m resurfacing scheme scheduled to last five months. |
| Mr Skipp said: "We would never operate an unsafe runway. We invited the CAA down to make sure we were doing everything correctly and we were. | Mr Skipp said: "We would never operate an unsafe runway. We invited the CAA down to make sure we were doing everything correctly and we were. |
| "It is the airlines' decision whether or not they choose to fly. We need to find out what Easyjet's concerns are and resolve them." | |
| Easyjet have taken the decision that they don't want to fly and we don't criticise that decision - passenger safety is paramount. | |
| "We are in discussions with Easyjet and have been all day but I don't want them to come back until they are ready to come back." | |
| 'Skated across' | |
| But one pilot, speaking to BBC News anonymously, said the situation at the airport had been known of for some time. | But 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." |
| Ten planes were diverted to Cardiff Airport on 30 December after three aircraft took longer than normal to stop at Bristol, it has emerged. | Ten planes were diverted to Cardiff Airport on 30 December after three aircraft took longer than normal to stop at Bristol, it has emerged. |
| In December, a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny, with 52 passengers on board, ended up at the side of the runway, about two thirds along, after landing at Bristol. | In December, a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny, with 52 passengers on board, ended up at the side of the runway, about two thirds along, after landing at Bristol. |
| 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. |
| Easyjet says around two-thirds of its Bristol flights on Saturday will be running from Cardiff, with passengers advised to check in at Bristol before being bussed to Cardiff. | Easyjet says around two-thirds of its Bristol flights on Saturday will be running from Cardiff, with passengers advised to check in at Bristol before being bussed to Cardiff. |
| Easyjet flights diverted to Cardiff on Friday EZY 448 Belfast - BristolEZY 452 Belfast - BristolEZY 569 Newcastle - BristolEZY 573 Newcastle - BristolEZY 572 Bristol - NewcastleTransfers from Cardiff to Bristol will be provided by Easyjet Latest flight information | Easyjet flights diverted to Cardiff on Friday EZY 448 Belfast - BristolEZY 452 Belfast - BristolEZY 569 Newcastle - BristolEZY 573 Newcastle - BristolEZY 572 Bristol - NewcastleTransfers from Cardiff to Bristol will be provided by Easyjet Latest flight information |
| Customers are entitled to a refund or a free transfer on to another flight within the next month, the company has said. | Customers are entitled to a refund or a free transfer on to another flight within the next month, the company has said. |
| A BA spokeswoman has said it would not operate flights if the runway moisture levels were above a certain level. | A BA spokeswoman has said it would not operate flights if the runway moisture levels were above a certain level. |
| Bristol Airport's operations director, Paul Davies, said: "Easyjet's decision is 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 is 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." |
| 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." |
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. |
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| 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 |