Dozens of flights were delayed at Manchester Airport on Monday, December 15, after an unexpected surface issue forced the closure of one of the airport’s runways, compounding disruption caused by poor weather conditions.
According to Manchester Airport, heavy rain and reduced visibility led to operational delays throughout the morning. The situation was further aggravated when Runway 05L/23R was closed due to a surface failure, leaving the airport to operate on a single runway. As a result, departure delays averaged around 60 minutes, while arriving flights were delayed by approximately 45 minutes, based on flight tracking data.
Local media reported that repair works were required on a taxiway linked to the runway after a minor defect was identified. Although the issue was expected to be resolved within a few hours, adverse weather conditions slowed repair efforts.
Flights operated by airlines including British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet were affected, with delays recorded on services to and from destinations such as Paris, Copenhagen and Malaga. Airport authorities advised passengers to monitor their flight status closely.