THEUK’s major airlines and airports have been cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority as safe from any millennium computer bug.
An independent Year 2000 assessment of carriers including British Airways, Flying Colours and KLMUK is due for completion this summer with most firms proving they are already ready.
Airports owned by BAA and Manchester Airport have also been certified as safe.
So far 87% of airlines have been passed as millennium compliant. The remainder have agreed a plan with the CAA to ensure potential problems will be solved. BA alone has spent £100m to ensure systems in the air and on the ground will not suffer faults.
BAA, which runs Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, reports its three-year £51m programme is 95% complete. The company plans for airports to be open as normal over the New Year period.
From September 1, the airport will have a millennium travel hotline on 0161-489 2000 to answer passengers question. Manchester is also expanding its Internet site with bug answers at www.manairport.co.uk