Aussie airport clears backlog after strong winds

>> SYDNEY: Sydney Airport resumed normal operations yesterday as strong winds that caused airline chaos a day earlier eased, a spokeswoman said.

Winds gusting up to 70kph caused Sydney Airport to close one runway on Friday, leaving international and domestic travellers stranded.

Sydney Airport cancelled 76 flights after all but one runway was closed.

Weather bureau meteorologist Rosemary Barr told Reuters the winds gradually eased yesterday to up to 30kph after a low-pressure system in the Tasman sea weakened and moved east.

The winds had been part of a massive weather system over southeast Australia, that whipped up a 500km dust storm on Thursday, which swept across the droughtparched interior to blanket Sydney.

Sydney Airport spokeswoman Cait Tynan said the airport was operating normally yesterday with both runways operational.

The easing winds also brought relief on yesterday after 21 fires were fanned by the strong gusts across New South Wales state on Friday.

A modified Boeing 737 capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water or fire retardant helped to fight fires around the city of Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Friday. More than 100 firefighters prepared containment lines in the area overnight, the Rural Fire Service said.