Manchester Airport faces significant delays due to runway closure
Manchester Airport is currently experiencing significant delays due to the closure of one of its main runways. This situation affects thousands of passengers arriving and departing from the UK’s third-busiest airport.
Reason for Runway Closure
The closure stems from a surface failure on one of the taxiways, requiring engineers to shut down a runway for repairs. Compounding the issue, poor visibility caused by inclement weather further complicates operations.
Impact on Flights
Air traffic controllers have capped the number of inbound flights, resulting in substantial delays. While departures remain unrestricted, late arrivals contribute to ongoing disruptions.
Current Flight Delays
- British Airways from Heathrow
- KLM from Amsterdam
- Lufthansa from Frankfurt
- SAS from Copenhagen
- Finnair from Helsinki
- Turkish Airlines from Istanbul
Many flights from these major hubs are arriving over an hour late, causing a ripple effect of delays for connecting flights.
Noteworthy Flight Examples
One notable example includes a Ryanair flight from Belfast International that was scheduled to depart at 7:50 AM. Although ready for takeoff, the Boeing 737 remained grounded for nearly two hours as it awaited a slot at Manchester. After taking off, it flew in a holding pattern before landing, ultimately arriving two hours late.
Similarly, an easyJet flight from Belfast City faced around two hours of delay, also due to a lengthy hold before landing.
Advice for Passengers
Manchester Airport advises passengers to proceed to the airport as planned but to stay informed through their airlines for updates. Residual delays are expected to persist into the afternoon.
