Families’ summer holidays have been put in jeopardy after EasyJet canceled several flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports due to “air traffic control restrictions”
Brits are facing summer holiday chaos after easyJet canceled a series of flights to and from Britain at short notice.
For many, the holidays are now at risk. Some tourists even had to quickly change their plans after hearing the news at check-in desks at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
EasyJet customers contacted the Mirror en masse this evening to share their frustration at the impact the budget airline’s move has had on them. These include people returning to Britain, such as 70-year-old Carole Fuller, a solo traveler, who has been stranded in Bodrum, Turkey, after her flight to Edinburgh was canceled at short notice.
Ann Thomas and her husband are stuck at Malaga Airport after their flight to Manchester Airport was cancelled – again due to “air traffic control issues”. EasyJet has tonight been pressed by the Mirror for more information on the matter.
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Another tourist attempted to find an alternative flight home from Larnaca, Cyprus, with her family after their easyJet trip was cancelled. They claim other tourists have had to spend up to £1,500 on alternative flights back to the UK, although they have reportedly been told that easyJet will eventually reimburse these costs.
Mrs Fuller’s daughter Rosie told us that her mother and fellow passengers were only told their flight from Bodrum had been cancelled on Wednesday when they were waiting at the departure gate to board. She added: “It was chaos, there was no easyJet representative to be seen and unfortunately at that time of day there were no English speaking staff, many passengers were visibly upset and panicking about how they were going to get home. After a while they were told they were all being taken to a hotel, two large coaches full of passengers. The hotel was 20 minutes away.”
“In the morning my mother met fellow travelers in the dining room and together they asked the front desk if they should contact the airport for more information – anything, as they had not received an answer to what was going on. As the day went on progressed, they still heard nothing, other passengers started booking on other flights, some to London Gatwick (easyJet) and others Jet2 to Glasgow, both flights scheduled for June 27.”
Rosie helped her mother book a flight for very late on Thursday evening – but to Glasgow, about 50 miles from where she had hoped to be – Edinburgh. Rosie said it’s essential because her mother is running low on her medication.
But Mrs Thomas and her husband remain in limbo on the Costa del Sol. Mrs Thomas told us they should have been at Manchester Airport by now but were told at 6pm that their flight had been cancelled.
“My husband tried to book an alternative flight tomorrow night via an app that could book a flight with Jet2. Initially the price was £259 for two people. Now we have been told the price has gone up to £461 per person. How can this be,” said Mrs Thomas.
“Now [we’re] told that the payment was unsuccessful and [the flight is] not available anymore. We managed to rebook at the hotel we stayed at. We are waiting to see what will happen next.”
The Briton, who had difficulty leaving Larnaca, rushed to catch a flight to the East Midlands, more than 100 miles from their intended destination of Liverpool. She said she and her partner had to spend even more money on an Uber to complete their journey to Merseyside. She added: “Some people have paid £1,500 for alternative flights. It’s absolutely awful.”
An easyJet spokesperson said: “Due to the impact of air traffic control restrictions across Europe, some flights were unable to operate last night and today.
“We have done everything we can to minimise the impact on our customers, by providing hotel accommodation and meals to those who require them, as well as a refund or transfer to an alternative flight, and advising customers that they will be reimbursed for costs if they need to make their own arrangements.
“The safety and well-being of our customers is our highest priority and while this is beyond our control, we apologize for any inconvenience.”
But the Mirror has approached the budget airline amid further reports of Britons stranded overseas, criticised its communications and asked for more details about the nature of the air traffic control problems.
It is believed that air traffic control companies often impose restrictions on air traffic control to manage air traffic in a region. The restrictions are caused by a variety of reasons, including bad weather conditions.