3 weeks ago
Bristol Airport Runway Closure Sparks 14 Hours of Travel Chaos
The runway at Bristol Airport is the long strip of ground that aeroplanes use to take off and land.
On Friday evening, the airport found a problem with the runway and had to close it to keep everyone safe.
That meant no planes could take off or land for about 14 hours, until Saturday morning.
Hundreds of people waiting to fly were stuck at the airport or had their plans changed.
Some flights were delayed for many hours, and a few were cancelled.
Some passengers were upset because they said they did not get enough information about what was happening.
One person called the wait "a shambles", which is a word for a very messy and confusing situation.
Another passenger was put on a flight to a different city and then had to take a long bus ride.
The airport said it was sorry, but explained that safety is the most important thing.
When the runway reopened, planes started flying again, but it took time for everything to get back to normal.
A runway defect forced Bristol Airport to suspend all operations for about 14 hours, from around 6pm on Friday (7) until 8am on Saturday (8).
Flights resumed on Saturday morning, but significant delays and some cancellations continued as airlines dealt with a backlog of flights.
Passengers criticised the handling of the disruption, with one describing it as "a shambles" and another calling it "extremely frustrating and confusing."
Several early flights were delayed by hours, including a Jet2 service to Faro pushed back from 5.55am to about 11.30am and an easyJet flight to Larnaca delayed from 7.15am to about 2pm.
Bristol Airport defended the closure, saying the safety of customers and staff was of paramount importance, and apologised for the inconvenience.
- Who
- Hundreds of passengers at Bristol Airport, along with airlines including easyJet and Jet2
- What
- A runway defect forced the airport to suspend all flight operations for about 14 hours, causing delays, cancellations and flight diversions
- Where
- Bristol Airport, United Kingdom
- When
- From around 6pm on Friday (7) until 8am on Saturday (8)
- Why
- To assess and repair a defect in the runway; the airport said the safety of customers and staff was its priority
Passengers
Bristol Airport
Communication During Disruption
Passengers
Passengers said communication was "really poor", with no tannoy announcements for more than an hour and "absolutely no information" after leaving the aircraft; one described the situation as "a shambles".
Bristol Airport
The airport apologised for any inconvenience, said it realised how frustrating the disruption was for those affected, and noted that repairs had continued through the night.
Decision to Suspend Runway Operations
Passengers
Some passengers questioned the handling, such as being boarded at 6.15pm despite flights having been suspended at 6.08pm, an experience one passenger called "baffling".
Bristol Airport
The airport defended the closure, stating that the safety of customers and staff was of paramount importance, which is why runway operations were temporarily suspended.
Key facts
- Location
- Bristol Airport, United Kingdom
- Runway closure
- About 14 hours, from around 6pm Friday (7) to 8am Saturday (8)
- Reason for closure
- Runway defect requiring assessment and repair
- Status after reopening
- Flights resumed but significant delays and some cancellations continued
- Jet2 flight to Faro
- Scheduled 5.55am, delayed to about 11.30am
- easyJet flight to Larnaca
- Scheduled 7.15am, expected to depart at about 2pm
- Diversion
- Passenger Dave Blackwell's flight from Rhodes was diverted to Newcastle, followed by a five-to-six-hour bus ride
- Airport statement
- Safety of customers and staff is of paramount importance; apology issued for inconvenience
Quotes
Passenger Dave Blackwell
Passenger who had flight diverted from Rhodes to Newcastle
“We were in Rhodes Airport for three hours with no information. Now we have all been told our flight is going to Newcastle and then a five or six hour bus ride - why Newcastle? How appalling.”
easterneye.biz
“The communication, advice and support for passengers has been really poor.”
easterneye.biz
Bristol Airport spokesperson
Airport spokesperson explaining safety priority
“We realise how frustrating this was for all those affected, but the safety of our customers and staff is of paramount importance, which is why runway operations were temporarily suspended.”
easterneye.biz
Sources
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