Flights out of Ronaldsway were cancelled or delayed overnight after the handling agent ran out of aircraft de-icer.

Exceptional weather conditions on Friday which saw Ronaldsway hit by eight to 10 snow showers resulted in the handling agent using up a year’s stock of 9,000 litres of de-icing fluid in just one day.

One aircraft was de-iced and taxied three times before it could take off. That aircraft alone needed around 1,800 litres of deicing fluid - the usual equivalent of de-icing 15 aircraft in freezing conditions.

Some flights were cancelled and EasyJet put an overnight delay on its Bristol, Gatwick and Liverpool services.

More aircraft de-icing fluid was brought over on the overnight ferry, and aircraft were able to be de-iced from Saturday morning. The handling agent currently has about 24,000 litres of de-icing fluid here.

Airport director Ann Reynolds said Ronaldsway had remained open throughout the weekend but the large number of snow showers had caused some operational issues for the handling agent who is responsible for the de-icing of the aircraft.

She explained that in general, during very cold frost and ice conditions an aircraft needs about 100-120 litres of de-icing fluid before taxiing for departur.

But if there is snow, it would need six or seven times that.

She said: ’On Friday there were many snow showers throughout the day, and the aircraft deicing requirements were exceptional.

’One aircraft was de-iced and taxied three times due to snow showers whilst on the ground. That aircraft alone needed around 1,800 litres of deicing fluid.

’By early evening the handling agent had used up its annual stock of around 9,000 litres in one day, and therefore informed the airlines operating that evening that it could not offer an aircraft deicing service until the following day.

’There has been no further aircraft de-icing issues. The period of lack of availability of no deicing fluid was about four hours Friday evening.

She said the handling agent had apologised to passenger affected by the delay and cancellations.

’I am very sorry, in addition to the sincere apologies of the handling agent, that many passengers on Friday evening did not manage to travel,’ Ms Reynolds said.