Last Modified: 5 Jan 2007
Source:
ITN
Three airlines have cancelled flights to and from Bristol airport because of safety concerns following resurfacing work on the runway.
Budget airline easyJet, British Airways and XL Airway cancelled flights to and from the airport over fears that planes could fail to brake in wet weather.
EasyJet spokesman Toby Nicol said the company will not operate flights while the runway is wet and is moving its Bristol operations to another airport for the rest of the afternoon.
He added: "Any rain over the weekend will prevent flights from Bristol. Bristol airport has been laying a new runway and what they have not had a chance to do is cut grooves into the surface.
"We have found that this is having an effect on braking distances on the runway in wet weather."
EasyJet said its decision to cancel the flights was taken after extensive discussions with Bristol Airport and with the Civil Aviation Authority.
Last week 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. The previous week an easyJet flight from Malaga strayed on to the safety area.
