Faulty radar delays flights at Dublin airport

DUBLIN AIRPORT Authority said it was minimising delays yesterday, after a radar fault late on Wednesday night led to restrictions on flights.

Average delays of one hour were being experienced by all airlines using the airport at lunchtime yesterday, as restrictions remained in place on both departing and landing flights.

As the airport’s largest users, Aer Lingus and Ryanair passengers were the largest groups affected by the slowdown.

Airport spokeswoman Nicola Rochford said passengers reacted calmly to the delays, remaining in the shopping areas or at the boarding gates until flights were opened. Staff were on hand to offer whatever assistance was necessary, she said. Ms Rochford said those meeting passengers had been advised to check with the airlines concerned.

The Irish Aviation Authority said the fault, detected at about 11.30pm on Wednesday, did not result in a shutdown of air traffic control systems, but a “reduction in functionality”.

Spokeswoman Lillian Cassin said: “The screens didn’t go blank, but we lost some of the identities of the aircraft – it was a step back rather than a shutdown.”

After a 30-minute lapse the system returned to normal but the aviation authority restricted the number of aircraft from 25 per hour to 16 per hour as a precaution. By early evening most flights taking off from the airport were returning to normal, while some restrictions remained in place for incoming traffic.

Engineers were working yesterday to determine the cause of the fault.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus confirmed flights were delayed but reported no major delays. Both airlines said passengers had accepted the delays were in the interests of safety.