This Is Guernsey

By Aimee Le Cocq

Commodore Clipper (Picture by Tony Rive).

CONDOR delayed yesterday morning’s Clipper sailing from Portsmouth so people stuck in tailbacks caused by a 20-car pile up could catch the ferry.

It was due to depart at 9am but an accident on the M27 just before 7am caused by cars skidding on ice caused massive tailbacks.

The ferry sailed at 10.30am with every booked car passenger on board but without eight foot passengers whom Condor had been unable to contact.

The ferry arrived in the island at 5.18pm, instead of 4pm.

There were delays and cancellations at the airport yesterday because of adverse weather in the UK.

Flybe flights to Southampton were delayed when the UK airport’s runway was shut. It reopened in the afternoon.

One Flybe flight from Gatwick was cancelled while one to Gatwick returned to Guernsey.

Airport director Colin Le Ray said that things had improved throughout the day.

‘Gatwick is flyable and has been and Southampton is as well,’ he said.

‘Because there are many gaps in some of the schedules they have more or less caught up.’

There were indications that the weather might deteriorate over night, he said, which might have an impact on the flights today.

‘The forecast is that the temperatures will improve as we go through Christmas and into Boxing Day,’ he said.

‘I think there will be less of a risk of disruption after Christmas.’

Aurigny had to remove several bags from a Gatwick-Guernsey flight when freezing rain reduced the payload the aircraft could carry.

‘The bags are coming on the next available flights, and may well all be in Guernsey later today, if not they certainly will be by tomorrow,’ said commercial director Malcolm Coupar.

‘Aurigny apologises for any inconvenience caused and is doing all it can.’

This was an isolated incident, he said.

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Article posted on 24th December, 2009 - 2.29pm