Stansted Airport is closed for security reasons

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Source: Ryanair

07:45hrs

Ryanair was advised this morning by BAA Stansted (8th Dec) that Stansted Airport is closed for security reasons. Apparently a number of airport protesters have been demonstrating on the runway/ taxiway since 03:00 this AM, and BAA Stansted have failed to remove them. As a direct result of this security breach, Ryanair has been forced to cancel its first wave of flights (52 in total) out of and into Stansted Airport. Ryanair will be calling for an investigation as to why the BAA Stansted security has once again failed to keep Stansted Airport secure and open to the travelling public. It is unacceptable that the travel plans of thousands of passengers have been disrupted because BAA Stansted security have failed to remove a number of protesters.

BAA Stansted have advised they expect the runway to reopen at 09:00 AM, and further update will be published here at 08:15 hrs.

UPDATE - 8:30am

Ryanair was advised that as of 08:06hrs Stansted Airport is once again open, after police removed protestors who began demonstrating on the airport taxi-way at 03.00hrs. This closure of Stansted Airport this morning has forced Ryanair to cancel 52 flights out of and into Stansted Airport.

Passengers due to travel from Stansted Airport should check the list of cancelled flights below and use the below free move weblink to rebook their flight (free of charge) or apply for a full refund or they can call a dedicated Flight Disruption Line on +353 1 249 7788.

Ryanair sincerely apologises to passengers affected by this unacceptable breach of security and management failure at BAA Stansted Airport.

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Ryanair News
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News Release
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08.12.08
Ryanair calls for Stansted Airport Answers

WHY DID STANSTED SECURITY FAIL AGAIN TODAY?

Ryanair, Stansted’s largest airline, today (8th Dec) called on BAA Stansted to explain:

(1) Why protestors were able to breach Stansted security at 3am this morning,

(2) Why it took Stansted over five hours to remove them from the taxi-way, and,

(3) Why thousands of passengers had their travel plans interrupted by this latest management failure at Stansted Airport.

Today’s security failure at Stansted joins a long list of management failures at the airport including lengthy queues at security and at passport control.

Ryanair renewed its call today for the break-up of the BAA monopoly and the sale of Stansted in order to improve customer services and end these BAA cock-ups.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“The security at BAA Stansted airport has once again failed. We need to know what measures the BAA is putting in place to prevent these repeated security failures. BAA Stansted is not fit for purpose. We need to break up the BAA monopoly as soon as possible to improve customer services and end these BAA cock-ups”.