Tens of thousands of British passengers are stranded at airports across Europe due to about 200 canceled flights over the weekend.
More than 100 flights to and from the UK were canceled on Saturday due to a combination of staff shortages and air traffic control restrictions.
So far today, dozens more have been grounded, mostly by easyJet. Many of those blocked are families hoping to return home after half a holiday.
In terms of pure numbers, Gatwick has the biggest problem. The main airline there, easyJet, has so far canceled about 40 flights, with others on Wizz Air and British Airways also suspended.
Destinations include Greek and Italian islands such as Corfu, Sardinia and Sicily.
Many thousands of British holidaymakers had to return on Saturday and are still trying to find alternatives. While most of the flights are still running, they are very busy.
All passengers are entitled to alternative flights as soon as possible, including a competing airline; hotel room while they can travel; and, if the airline is liable, monetary compensation.
In Bristol, at least a dozen easyJet flights have been canceled, with most passengers receiving only a few hours’ notice. Destinations include Malaga, Lisbon and Berlin.
Alexander Coombs told The Independent: “I received a text message that my flight was canceled from Berlin to Bristol today, so I am now blocked in Berlin.
“I can’t contact anyone to help me with easyJet. Any ideas on how I can get help? The next flight is Thursday!
“I’m trying to look for other flights to another airport in the UK, but there don’t seem to be any today?”
British Airways canceled an average of more than 100 flights a day for weeks, drastically reducing the number of seats available to and from the United Kingdom.
There are also easyJet cancellations in Luton – eight so far, including Barcelona and Nice – and one in Manchester, a two-way trip to Amsterdam.
Luton Airport’s air navigation system was not used for several hours early Sunday, with at least 18 flights diverted, mostly from Wizz Air.
Wizz Air stops some flights from Gatwick, Luton and Doncaster Sheffield.
Kam Hosseini is in Faro, Portugal, after his Wizz Air flight to Cardiff on Saturday night was suspended “minutes before a text check”.
He said: “No representative of the airline at the airport, he was just given a piece of paper and said that the next flights to the United Kingdom, which we can board, are from Wednesday onwards.
“It’s stuck in Faro and there are no signs of flying soon.”
Although alternative airlines can be used and the costs are charged to the canceled airline, for many passengers the alternatives are difficult to find after wholesale cancellations in the last week.
Passengers hoping to return from Paris to London on Eurostar trains are facing a day of interruption.
The railway operator of the Channel Tunnel said: “Due to a power problem near Paris, our services to / from Paris are subject to delays and cancellations.
“Please don’t come to the station unless you have a travel ticket.”
At least three afternoon trains have been canceled and others are facing major delays.
“We urge you NOT to travel today and to postpone for an alternative date,” Eurostar tweeted later.
Add Comment