Safety concerns close Derry airport

Council chiefs in Derry are in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority after flights were suspended to and from the city's airport…

Council chiefs in Derry are in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority after flights were suspended to and from the city's airport at midnight due to safety concerns.

The Civil Aviation Authority suspended the licence of City of Derry Airport after an inspection raised concerns about the drainage of the runway, the facility for parking planes and its bird-control plan.

Ryanair, which operates a service between Derry and London Stansted, cancelled its flights.

Passengers on British Airways flights to Dublin and Glasgow International were advised to check in at City of Derry to board buses taking them to Belfast International where the flights have been rescheduled.

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City of Derry Airport, which is run by the city council, also has services to Liverpool and Bristol as well as operating package holiday flights.

City of Derry Airport insisted they placed safety as a top priority. The management said they were working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Meanhwile the Progressive Unionist Party ( PUP) has called for an inquiry into the airport closure and urged swift action from the Northern Executive. "This is a crisis for the economy of the North West and the only response so far has been the wringing of hands," PUP leader Dawn Purvis said.

"There have been concerns raised about health and safety issues since 2000 and the airport received joint government funding to develop the airport in 2005," she said.

PA and staff reporter