Bristol Airport - 2007 Resurfacing Controversy

2007 Resurfacing Controversy

On 5 January 2007 flights were cancelled or diverted, including all EasyJet and XL Airways flights. This was due to braking action on the runway not being the required standard for safe stopping in wet conditions. Virtually all of the operations were moved to Cardiff Airport by these two airlines. EasyJet moved 60% of its operations to Cardiff during this weekend of disruption.

The problem arose from a new £17 million asphalt runway surface not being sufficiently grooved to allow water run off. Although the new runway was given Civil Aviation Authority clearance on 4 January 2007, there had been a number of incidents over the previous four weeks, with aircraft unable to stop without running over the operating limits of the runway.

A British Airways spokeswoman said it would not operate flights if the runway moisture levels were above a certain level, and the airline cancelled several of its flights.

On Sunday 7 January 2007, following further cancellations, Bristol Airport management made the decision to close the runway from 14:30 for work to resolve the problem. The runway remained closed during Monday 8 January. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report, released in January 2009, reported that there were two serious incidents where aircraft left the runway in December 2006. The report highlighted technical faults with the runway surface, and operational problems with the airlines and the airport operator.