Family summer holidays are under threat after easyJet canceled several flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports due to ‘air traffic control restrictions’
Britons are facing summer holiday chaos after easyJet canceled a number of flights to and from the UK at short notice.
Holidays are now in jeopardy for many – and some tourists have even had to hastily rearrange their plans after hearing the news at check-in counters at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
EasyJet customers contacted the Mirror in droves this evening to share their frustration at how the budget airline’s move has affected them. These include people returning to the UK, such as 70-year-old Carole Fuller, a solo traveler who was stranded in Bodrum, Turkey because her flight to Edinburgh was canceled at short notice.
Ann Thomas and her husband were stranded at Malaga Airport after their flight to Manchester Airport was canceled – again due to “air traffic control issues”. The Mirror has tonight called on EasyJet to offer more information on the issues.
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Another tourist was trying to find an alternative flight home for her and her family from Larnaca, Cyprus after their easyJet trip was cancelled. They claim other tourists had to spend up to £1,500 on alternative flights back to the UK, despite being told that easyJet would eventually cover the costs.
Ms Fuller’s daughter Rosie told us her mother and fellow passengers were only told their flight from Bodrum had been canceled as they were waiting to board at the departure gate on Wednesday. She added: “Chaos ensured, with no easyJet representative in sight and unfortunately no English speaking staff present at that time of day, many passengers were visibly upset and panicking about how to get home. After some time they were told everyone they were taken to the hotel, two big buses full of passengers, the hotel was 20 minutes away.”
“In the morning, mom met the other passengers in the dining room and together they asked the reception about contacting the airport for more information – anything at all, because they had no answer to what was going on. As the day progressed.” still haven’t heard anything, other passengers have started booking on other flights, some to London Gatwick (easyJet) and others Jet2 to Glasgow, both scheduled for June 27.”
Rosie helped her mother book a flight for a very late Thursday evening – but to Glasgow, about 50 miles from where she hoped she would be – Edinburgh. Rosie said it was necessary because her mother was running low on medication.
But Mrs Thomas and her husband remain in limbo on the Costa del Sol. Ms Thomas told us they were due to arrive at Manchester Airport but were told their flight had been canceled at 6pm.
“My husband tried to book an alternative flight for tomorrow night using the app which would allow us to fly with Jet2. First the price was £259 for two people. We have now been informed that the price has increased to £461 each. How can this be ,” said Mrs. Thomas.
“Now [we’re] the communicated payment did not go through and [the flight is] is no longer available. We managed to rebook into the hotel we were staying at. We are waiting to see what happens now.”
Struggling to leave Larnaca, the Brit scrambled to board a flight to the East Midlands, more than 100 miles from his intended destination – Liverpool. She said she and her partner had to spend extra money on Uber to complete the trip to Merseyside. She added: “Some people have paid £1,500 for alternative flights. It’s absolutely terrible.”
A spokesman for easyJet 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 minimize the impact on our customers, providing hotel accommodation and meals to those who need them, as well as refunds or transfer to an alternative flight and advising customers that they will be reimbursed if they will need. to make their own arrangements.
“The safety and well-being of our customers is our highest priority and although it is beyond our control, we apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
However, the Mirror has approached the budget airline about further reports of Britons stranded overseas, criticism of its communications and asked for more details on the nature of the air traffic control problems.
It is believed that air traffic control restrictions are often imposed by air traffic control providers to manage air traffic in a region for various reasons, including adverse weather conditions.