Gatwick Airport experienced knock-on delays on Monday (13 June) morning after its main runway was temporarily closed on Sunday, reportedly because of a pothole.
The airport said on Sunday afternoon it had closed its main runway just before 4pm while it ‘investigated a reported issue’. It said it switched its operation to its secondary northern runway to keep flights departing and arriving.
London's Gatwick Airport
The Guardian reported that the issue in question was a hole in the surface of the runway, caused by flooding after a storm.
At the time, the closure caused delays of up to three hours to some flights and some incoming flights were diverted to Bournemouth or Stansted.
The closure is a blow to the airport, which last week wrote to prime minister David Cameron with a new pitch to secure the new runway recommended last year by the Airports Commission.
An airport spokesperson said: ‘Gatwick is returning to normal after the temporary closure of the runway yesterday afternoon. Some minor knock-on delays are occurring this morning while some of yesterday's flights are accommodated in today's schedule.
‘Gatwick Airport will continue to work closely with our airline partners and do everything possible to assist our passengers and get them moving. Gatwick would like to apologise to everyone affected by yesterday's disruption.’
The airport did not clarify the cause of the closure.
div class="clear spacer">
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
