Bristol Airport resumed flight operations on Tuesday morning after an electrical storm on Monday night damaged critical air traffic control systems, forcing a complete closure that stranded hundreds of passengers. The airport suspended all arrivals and departures after lightning knocked out both ground radar and communication systems, leaving travellers unable to fly to destinations across the UK and Europe.
Airport Closure and Immediate Impact
The thunderstorms swept across the South West of England on Monday evening, bringing heavy rain and lightning that directly hit airport infrastructure. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bristol Airport confirmed: "Following the earlier electrical storm, Bristol Airport remains closed to arriving and departing aircraft whilst engineers investigate a fault with Air Traffic Control systems. Customers should contact their airline with any specific flight queries." Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed as a result, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of passengers.
Overnight Repairs and Gradual Resumption
Engineers worked through the night to restore the affected systems. By Wednesday morning, flights had resumed, although disruption continued with some services delayed and a number of flights originally scheduled for Tuesday rescheduled to later on Wednesday. Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport, as airlines and staff work through the backlog caused by the closure.
Operational Status and Passenger Advice
Flight information on Wednesday morning showed both arrivals and departures operating again, though some delays remained. The airport has not disclosed the exact number of flights affected. Bristol Airport, one of the UK's busiest regional airports handling millions of passengers annually, urged travellers to contact their airlines directly for specific flight updates. The airport's statement emphasised that safety concerns had driven the decision to suspend operations during the storm.
