Bristol: Weather & Technical Diversions, Delays & Cancellations

[alphagolf]

KLM 1053 & 1054 from and to AMS cancelled tomorrow, but KLM cancellations are not limited to BRS, there are several others to various UK airports including LHR, LCY etc. It would suggest a KLM issue as not aware of anything regarding AMS itself. Although I have noticed a couple of other cancellatios by EZY and BA.

 

[Jerry]

KLM 1053 & 1054 from and to AMS cancelled tomorrow, but KLM cancellations are not limited to BRS, there are several others to various UK airports including LHR, LCY etc. It would suggest a KLM issue as not aware of anything regarding AMS itself. Although I have noticed a couple of other cancellatios by EZY and BA.

On the KLM website it says that it's down to weather at AMS tomorrow.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thursday 31 May 2018

Apart from one of the four KLM rotations mentioned above, bmi regional have cancelled the Dusseldorf and Hamburg rotations this evening.

This is the sorry tale of bmi regional cancellations this week, so far.

Sunday
1 of 2 Frankfurt rotations cancelled
1 of 2 Munich rotations cancelled
1 of 2 Brussels rotations cancelled
Single daily Milan Malpensa rotation cancelled

Monday
1 of 2 Frankfurt rotations cancelled
Single daily Dusseldorf rotation cancelled

Tuesday
1 of 3 Brussels rotations cancelled
1 of 3 Frankfurt rotations cancelled
Single daily Dusseldorf rotation cancelled
Single daily Hamburg rotation cancelled

Wednesday
1 of 3 Paris CDG rotations cancelled

Thursday
Single daily Dusseldorf rotation cancelled
Single daily Hamburg rotation cancelled

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thursday 31 May 2018

easyJet has now cancelled the evening Malaga. I don't know why. A number of inbounds were seeing significant delays. Perhaps one of these aircraft (and crew?) was due to operate the Malaga this evening.

No chance of getting some of the pax on tomorrow's flights. Both outbounds are sold out as are the three on Saturday and one of the two on both Sunday and Monday. Those pax hoping to come back to BRS later this evening are in the same boat with the inbounds all sold out for the next few days exactly along the lines of the outbounds.

There is a handful of seats shown in the Ryanair seat selector as unoccupied over the next few days (Saturday inbound already sold out). BACF has two flights on Saturday/Sunday morning and TUI on Sunday (Thomas Cook doesn't serve Malaga from anywhere) but it's likely these are going to be full or nearly so.

Unless easyJet can put on some sort of rescue flight there will be a lot of disappointed and annoyed customers at both ends of this route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Friday I June 2018

When I listened to the 0700 BBC Radio Bristol travel report this morning the announcer said that flights were being delayed at Bristol Airport because of 'low lying fog'. This was repeated in the 0715 and 0730 traffic reports. I was looking out of my window at the time and could see the top of Dundry Hill standing clearly in view clothed in bright sunlight with not a hint of fog or mist then.

As it happened I was off to BRS this morning to catch a bus for one of my walks. I asked at the airport information desk if the airport had suffered from fog this morning and was told that there had been some around 0400. Some departures were experiencing delays and I asked the person at the information desk if this was the result of the earlier fog. I found this difficult to understand because all overnight flights had arrived in good time so there was no question of aircraft or crews being out of place and the fog had apparently cleared well before the first departure of the day. I was told that some of the delays were the result of problems with the baggage handling. If this is so it's an echo of kraktoa's recent post.

Inevitably there have been a number of knock-on delays throughout the day.

easyJet EZY402 from GLA at 1400 returning as EZY401 at 1425 was cancelled early on. This is a GLA-based aircraft so was nothing to do with earlier BRS delays.

This evening easyJet EZY429 to EDI at 1915 and the return EZY432 due back 2210 were cancelled. Four other EDI rotations operated today and the northbound cancellation was not the last one of the day so some passengers might have got on the later aircraft, but the cancelled southbound was the last of the day.

easyJet also cancelled EZY6267 to Prague at 1820 due back as EZY6268 at 2300. The next PRG is Sunday and the inbound is already sold out.

easyJet also cancelled EZY6045 to Palma at 1845 due back as EZY6046 at 0055 (Sat). There might be a chance for some passengers to catch an easyJet Palma in the morning as one of the two rotations tomorrow has availability unlike the other which is sold out, and the two inbounds are also sold out tomorrow as are the three outbounds on Sunday.

I don't know why the Palma was cancelled. Its aircraft, A320 OE-IVS, had operated BRS-EDI-BRS; BRS-CPH-BRS; BRS-GLA-BRS. Although it was around 90 minutes late on the CPH in both directions it returned from GLA at 2022 instead of the scheduled 1915. Perhaps they could not get later slots at PMI for a delayed arrival there. Given the lateness of the CPH earlier in the day it would have been known the PMI would be delayed. If there was no slot difficulty at PMI could not the crew's hours have been adjusted?

 

[kraktoa]

One thing is clear in the airline and travel industry. They lie blatantly.

As for baggage handling issue. There have been instances when One handler deals with an entire flight. This involves unloading a plane load of bags from the plane to the trolleys, then transporting the trolleys to the terminal arrivals and then unloading the bags onto the belts. Alldone by one person. Its unbelievable hard work.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

It's impossible to unload an aircraft with one person unless it's a BMI sized aircraft, which then also won't have many bags. In a Jet you need two in the hold and one on the ground stacking the bags.
It's also not a huge task to unload the bags onto the baggage belt, which can easily be done by one person and happens all over the world. The typical charter with 220+ bags would take a bit longer and would generally have more than one person but isn't outside the realms of possibility.

 

[Jerry]

If Swissport are having staffing problems then maybe it's a good thing that another airline hasn't come along.

 

[Marko1]

Sadly the baggage / aircraft handling situation is putting a black mark on the airport. Plenty of complaints on various social media sites and given that most would choose to put up with it rather than complain it can only be the tip of the iceberg. I gather swissports contracts are not with the airport but with the airlines themselves ? If so the airport is gaining a notieriety for something it is not in any way in control of . The airport should make it absolutely clear whom to complain to on its website. Secondly does this happen at other top ten uk airports ? Or is the Bristol specific ?

 

[andrewgreen]

Friday I June 2018

When I listened to the 0700 BBC Radio Bristol travel report this morning the announcer said that flights were being delayed at Bristol Airport because of 'low lying fog'. This was repeated in the 0715 and 0730 traffic reports. I was looking out of my window at the time and could see the top of Dundry Hill standing clearly in view clothed in bright sunlight with not a hint of fog or mist then.

As it happened I was off to BRS this morning to catch a bus for one of my walks. I asked at the airport information desk if the airport had suffered from fog this morning and was told that there had been some around 0400. Some departures were experiencing delays and I asked the person at the information desk if this was the result of the earlier fog. I found this difficult to understand because all overnight flights had arrived in good time so there was no question of aircraft or crews being out of place and the fog had apparently cleared well before the first departure of the day. I was told that some of the delays were the result of problems with the baggage handling. If this is so it's an echo of kraktoa's recent post.

Inevitably there have been a number of knock-on delays throughout the day.

easyJet EZY402 from GLA at 1400 returning as EZY401 at 1425 was cancelled early on. This is a GLA-based aircraft so was nothing to do with earlier BRS delays.

This evening easyJet EZY429 to EDI at 1915 and the return EZY432 due back 2210 were cancelled. Four other EDI rotations operated today and the northbound cancellation was not the last one of the day so some passengers might have got on the later aircraft, but the cancelled southbound was the last of the day.

easyJet also cancelled EZY6267 to Prague at 1820 due back as EZY6268 at 2300. The next PRG is Sunday and the inbound is already sold out.

easyJet also cancelled EZY6045 to Palma at 1845 due back as EZY6046 at 0055 (Sat). There might be a chance for some passengers to catch an easyJet Palma in the morning as one of the two rotations tomorrow has availability unlike the other which is sold out, and the two inbounds are also sold out tomorrow as are the three outbounds on Sunday.

I don't know why the Palma was cancelled. Its aircraft, A320 OE-IVS, had operated BRS-EDI-BRS; BRS-CPH-BRS; BRS-GLA-BRS. Although it was around 90 minutes late on the CPH in both directions it returned from GLA at 2022 instead of the scheduled 1915. Perhaps they could not get later slots at PMI for a delayed arrival there. Given the lateness of the CPH earlier in the day it would have been known the PMI would be delayed. If there was no slot difficulty at PMI could not the crew's hours have been adjusted?

I was caught in the delays yesterday due to depart for Toulouse at 1050 and eventually left at 1600 !
The reason given by easyJet was act delays in Amsterdam which was where the aircraft cane from

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was caught in the delays yesterday due to depart for Toulouse at 1050 and eventually left at 1600 !
The reason given by easyJet was act delays in Amsterdam which was where the aircraft cane from

That might have been the aircraft due to operate the Prague as its final rotation of the day.

If Swissport are having staffing problems then maybe it's a good thing that another airline hasn't come along.

Do Menzies handle any airlines at BRS now? I had a feeling they might do one or two of the smaller airlines. Some years ago I believe they handled easyJet at BRS.

 

[Jerry]

That might have been the aircraft due to operate the Prague as its final rotation of the day.



Do Menzies handle any airlines at BRS now? I had a feeling they might do one or two of the smaller airlines. Some years ago I believe they handled easyJet at BRS.

I think someone said they handle Aer Lingus but i can't remember who else.

I suppose it depends on the airline. If a prospective airline wanted to base and used Swissport at most of their other bases then I'd have thought they'd want to use Swissport at BRS unless the airport could persuade them to use Menzies but then Swissport could have a right to complain that the airport is steering business away from them i suppose.

 

[kraktoa]

If swissport is short of staff how do airlines manage short turnaround times?

I suspect the priority is to get the bags on the plane and arriving bags off. Bags off the plane are low priority and they will find their way to the baggage hall when staff are free. The average time is now 60 to 90 mins. Shocking state of affairs.

So airline doesnt give a toss. Their planes make the turnaround time and that is all that matters. Pax on the ground is not their problem.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Saturday 2 June 2018

I thought that today was going to get by without any cancellations. There were just over 100 departures scheduled which might be a record for a Saturday where there are fewer flights to business destinations. Late in the day the following appeared.

British Airways CityFlyer BA7019 to Ibiza at 1945 returning as BA7018 at 0110 is cancelled.

easyJet EZY6147 to Porto at 1845 returning as EZY6148 at 2320 might have been cancelled. BRS departures page shows the outbound 'Check-in desks 14', with the return shown both as cancelled and as estimating an arrival at 0010.

Can anyone sort out that conundrum?

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Messages can be given to passengers via the flight info boards. It's relevant at the Airport but not on the website. If it's cancelled EZY often rebook at check-in desks and would communicate this via announcements but also the flight info screens as not everyone listens/hears announcements. Also if the return was already delayed, it may have been the delay of 0010 was already present but then subsequently cancelled later on. The delay could likely still show.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Messages can be given to passengers via the flight info boards. It's relevant at the Airport but not on the website. If it's cancelled EZY often rebook at check-in desks and would communicate this via announcements but also the flight info screens as not everyone listens/hears announcements. Also if the return was already delayed, it may have been the delay of 0010 was already present but then subsequently cancelled later on. The delay could likely still show.

I understand all that but the fact remains that if the airport is going to put flight information on its website it has to be accurate. There is no point in putting anything on if it's not reliable.

Meeters/greeters at either end of the journey, or simply those who want to know that friends/loved ones have got away on time/are expected on time (or not) assume and are entitled to do so that an airport is putting out information that is accurate and can be relied upon. If I was meeting someone from the Porto flight last night I would look on the airport website arrivals page to get an idea of when I ought to reach the airport. What would I have made of it with two completely conflicting entries? I really cannot see that it is rocket science to maintain an airport website arrivals/departures page with accurate information.

Saying (and this is by no means the first time this has happened with the BRS website arrivals/departures pages) that a flight has been cancelled, yet at the same time giving an eta which suggests it is operating but late is simply unacceptable to me, and I suspect there are others who share this view.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Agreed but ultimately if your meeting someone from a flight you'd look at the arrivals page of that airport, not the departures page of the departing airport, unless you're delving deeper. BRS website isn' that informative but the Airport screens are and would likely be the relevant information for the passengers in the terminal. That being said a simple change of wording to the departures page, which I've seen at other nearby airports, would be something like 'cancelled- attend desk XX'.
I've worked with several airport information systems and they all work in different ways. Some give one message that displays in the terminal and on the website and others give multiple so you can display different messages. Also if you open a check in desk to show the logo of the airline at the desk it will often default to 'check in desk XX, which looks likes it's done here

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Agreed but ultimately if your meeting someone from a flight you'd look at the arrivals page of that airport, not the departures page of the departing airport

Exactly. That's the point I made in my last post. If I'd been meeting someone from the Porto flight the BRS arrivals page would have told me that the flight had been cancelled and was also showing an eta of 0010 (ie late running). Which should I have believed?

Further cancellations today.

This morning's Ryanair from/to Malta (MLA-based aircraft) and this evening's Ryanair to/from Bologna. These appear to be the only flights cancelled at these airports today by any airline.

The evening bmi regional is showing it's operating to Rostock instead of Hamburg and the return Hamburg is cancelled. Hamburg Airport website shows numerous cancellations there so there must be some problem at that end. Well done bmi regional for getting as near to Hamburg as possible with the outbound.

 

[alphagolf]

Power Blackout at HAM has caused all cancellations and delays. Airport estimated to reopen at 8pm local this evening.
I have had a little chuckle at BRS departure page has the flight operating to 'Rockstock' ha ha.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

If I'd been meeting someone from the Porto flight the BRS arrivals page would have told me that the flight had been cancelled and was also showing an eta of 0010 (ie late running). Which should I have believed?

Sorry I thought you were referring to the outbound BRS-OPO with the comments that were listed under the departure not showing it as cancelled.