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| Safety row disrupts ten airlines | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ten 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. | 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. | 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. | 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, KLM 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 First Choice and some Thomas Cook flights have been moved to Birmingham Airport. Other Thomas Cook flights are being diverted to Gatwick Airport. | All First Choice and some Thomas Cook flights have been moved to Birmingham Airport. Other Thomas Cook flights are being diverted to Gatwick Airport. |
| Passengers are advised to check-in at Bristol as normal, where they will then be transferred to another airport. | Passengers are advised to check-in at Bristol as normal, where they will then be transferred to another airport. |
| A spokeswoman for Easyjet said: "We are operating 60% of the Bristol operation out of Cardiff but we are suffering delays of around three hours because passengers need to check in at Bristol first. | A spokeswoman for Easyjet said: "We are operating 60% of the Bristol operation out of Cardiff but we are suffering delays of around three hours because passengers need to check in at Bristol first. |
| "We need to get the message out that travellers need to check in at Bristol first of all because people are turning up at Cardiff directly." | "We need to get the message out that travellers need to check in at Bristol first of all because people are turning up at Cardiff directly." |
| 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. | 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, but Easyjet say a decision on Monday's flights has not yet been made. | 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, but Easyjet say a decision on Monday's flights has not yet been made. |
| The row developed after £17m of resurfacing work on the runway. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "The safety of our passengers is, as always, of paramount concern." |
| 'Runway grooved' | 'Runway grooved' |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Hallwood 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." | Mr Hallwood 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." |
| Shaun Robinson, from Thomas Cook, told BBC News 24 the CAA cannot give out the information pilots need to land safely because the airport cannot supply them with braking reports. | Shaun Robinson, from Thomas Cook, told BBC News 24 the CAA cannot give out the information pilots need to land safely because the airport cannot supply them with braking reports. |
| He added that none of his pilots had reported problems with landing. | He added that none of his pilots had reported problems with landing. |
Have you been affected by the disruption at Bristol airport? Have bad weather conditions delayed your flight? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by the disruption at 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 |