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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bristol Airport runway to reopen | Bristol Airport runway to reopen |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Flights at Bristol Airport are expected to resume by 1000 GMT after tests on a runway at the centre of a safety row. | |
| Ten airlines had cancelled or diverted flights after claims that aircraft had skidded on landing in wet conditions on a refurbished runway. | Ten airlines had cancelled or diverted flights after claims that aircraft had skidded on landing in wet conditions on a refurbished runway. |
| A total of 385 flights and 25,000 passengers have been affected since the dispute began on Friday. | A total of 385 flights and 25,000 passengers have been affected since the dispute began on Friday. |
| A spokesman for the airport said the 1037 flight from New York could be the first to be allowed to land. | A spokesman for the airport said the 1037 flight from New York could be the first to be allowed to land. |
| The runway was closed overnight for work on runway drainage systems so flights could resume. | The runway was closed overnight for work on runway drainage systems so flights could resume. |
| Easyjet to reassess | Easyjet to reassess |
| "We've had an army of contractors out on the runway over the last 12 hours putting grooves in to increase friction," said Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development Director at Bristol International Airport. | "We've had an army of contractors out on the runway over the last 12 hours putting grooves in to increase friction," said Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development Director at Bristol International Airport. |
| "The runway was not unsafe, the CAA made it very clear that they were happy to continue operations and Bristol International has always said over the weekend that we'll never compromise passenger safety," he added. | "The runway was not unsafe, the CAA made it very clear that they were happy to continue operations and Bristol International has always said over the weekend that we'll never compromise passenger safety," he added. |
| 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. |
| On Monday a spokesperson for Easyjet said the firm would assess the situation later but for the time being 60% of its flights would continue to fly from Cardiff. | On Monday a spokesperson for Easyjet said the firm would assess the situation later but for the time being 60% of its flights would continue to fly from Cardiff. |
| Responding to criticism over the amount of time it was taking to sort the problem out, Mr Hallwood apologised to customers and said: "We had to wait for the regulatory authorities to approve this unique form of grooving to the runway. | Responding to criticism over the amount of time it was taking to sort the problem out, Mr Hallwood apologised to customers and said: "We had to wait for the regulatory authorities to approve this unique form of grooving to the runway. |
| "As of yesterday afternoon when we gained that approval we fast-tracked our activity to ensure we carried the work over the last 12 hours and we now have a successful conclusion and look forward to passengers returning to Bristol later this morning." | "As of yesterday afternoon when we gained that approval we fast-tracked our activity to ensure we carried the work over the last 12 hours and we now have a successful conclusion and look forward to passengers returning to Bristol later this morning." |