Bristol International Airport reopened its runway today after safety checks persuaded airlines it was safe to use.
Bristol was forced to close its runway yesterday to speed up resurfacing work in a bid to resolve a stand-off with ten airlines, including Aer Lingus, worried about the condition of temporary sections of the strip.
The refusal of pilots to use the runway, because they were concerned about braking in wet conditions on temporary sections, led to all flights being either diverted or cancelled.
"The engineering work undertaken overnight has proved successful in increasing the drainage of water from the 300 metre section of temporary surface in place on part of the runway being resurfaced," a spokeswoman for the airport said.
Hundreds of flights involving thousands of passengers were affected when the airlines stopped using the runway, which reopened at about 10.25am today.
Bristol airport expects to complete the £17 million five-month resurfacing of the runway in March.