Airport Says Safety Came First in Snow Shutdown

Ronaldsway Airport said safety concerns over snow and ice left it with ‘no option’ but to close to passenger flights on Monday, as wintry weather caused disruption across the Isle of Man.

The airport was shut throughout the day, prompting questions from passengers after sunshine appeared later on.

However, Isle of Man Airport said snow and ice had made the runways unsafe, stressing that ‘safety will always come first’.

In a big old statement issued on Monday evening, the airport explained that while snow melt had occurred in places, clear skies can cause temperatures to drop further, increasing the risk of refreezing on runways and other surfaces.

Snow clearance and de-icing work had begun on Sunday ahead of the forecast conditions, with specialist equipment including snow ploughs, brushes and de-icing tractors deployed under the airport’s winter operations plan.

The airport said it had been monitoring conditions closely and in great news for travellers, reopened this morning, but is still advising affected passengers yesterday to contact their airline directly for rebooking or refunds.

It added: ‘Keeping the airport operational is our focus, with safety as the most important consideration.’