Flights have resumed at Bristol Airport after a runway defect forced a temporary suspension of all operations on Friday evening, causing significant disruption for passengers.
Runway closure and impact
The airport halted all flights on Friday evening due to a defect on the runway. Operations were suspended until 8am on Saturday, leading to numerous cancellations and diversions. The runway was shut just after 6pm on Friday night.
Affected flights were either cancelled or rerouted to other airports, including Cardiff Airport. Some disruption to flights is expected on Saturday, and customers are advised to refer to their airlines with any flight queries.
Airport statements and repair
In a statement issued early Saturday morning, the airport said: "Due to a defect on the runway, we have temporarily suspended operations as a precaution, in order to inspect and repair the section affected. We apologise for any inconvenience. Safety is always our number one priority."
An updated statement at 8am said: "We're very sorry to customers affected and any impact this has had on their summer holiday. We continue to work closely with all airlines affected. The safety of passengers and staff is of paramount importance, which is why we made the decision to temporarily suspend flights as a precaution and to allow for the runway repair to be carried out."
The defect was fixed overnight, and the airport confirmed operations had resumed. An 8am announcement stated: "Flights have resumed at Bristol Airport this morning. There will be some disruption to some flights today and customers are advised to refer to their airlines with any flight queries. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
