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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Joe Thomas

The truth behind 'cancelled' Madrid flights

Flights set to carry Liverpool fans to Madrid are operating as planned - despite some services appearing as "cancelled" online.

Manchester Airport's live departures board listed two services to the Spanish capital as no longer being available this morning.

However, the airport has confirmed these were initial slots created by airlines - but then not taken up.

The travel hub added that all services scheduled between Manchester and Madrid are due to operate as planned - meaning no Reds fans heading there should be concerned.

Three times number of Liverpool fans heading to Madrid than Kiev from JLA (Liverpool ECHO)

Flights listed for 7.45am and 9am were marked as cancelled on the airport's online departures board this morning.

Following an query from the ECHO, a spokesperson for the airport explained the services were slots put into their system but then cancelled some time ago.

Those services may have been moved to Liverpool John Lennon Airport since they were initially booked in.

The spokesperson added: "The flights we have scheduled are all due to operate as planned at the moment."

That includes a service due to leave at 12.10pm.

Liverpool fans at the Wanda Metropolitano, venue for the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, which will take place on Saturday. (PA)

While the flights are running as scheduled, passengers heading to Manchester Airport are being warned of delays on the M602.

Currently at half an hour the delays run from Junction Two to the M62, covering six miles of the eastbound carriageway.

Anyone heading in that direction is advised to expect disruption.

The online departures board for Liverpool John Lennon Airport lists all flights to Madrid as being expected to leave as planned today.

Yesterday LFC fans trying to start their journey from Guernsey were thwarted by fog, leading to all flights from the Channel island's airport being cancelled.

One, Christian Doyle, a lawyer based in Liverpool who also works part-time in Guernsey, reckoned he would be around £500 out of pocket after his plans were ruined when the airline, Aurigny, cancelled all flights yesterday because of weather conditions.

Christian, 44, said: "All the flights were backed up and mine had not even landed. I was going to fly to Manchester airport to hook up with some mates there but now I will have to make my own way to Madrid by ferry, train, and plane."

For the latest as thousands of Liverpool fans head to Madrid for the Champions League final, follow our live blog here .

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