Chaos as flights cancelled after 8-hour wait and holidays ruined via TEXT

HOLIDAYMAKERS were plunged into further chaos today as eight-hour delays plagued airports with hundreds of trips scrapped over text.

Passengers compared Bristol Airport to a “zoo” while those in Manchester waited four hours for a pilot to show up.

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Nightmare check-ins took four hours to get through at Manchester Airport on Saturday, while several more were spent waiting for a pilot to turn up for on one Tui flight to Kos, Manchester Evening News reports.

Meanwhile, holidaymakers in Bristol were today left furious after waiting up to seven hours for their flights – only to be told over text and email they had been axed, Bristol Live reports.

One passenger tweeted: “Holiday cancelled after arriving at Bristol airport this morning, then after spending over an hour on hold I finally get through to @TUIUK only to be cut off.”

Another wrote: “Arrived at Bristol airport at 11AM for our 2PM flight to Gran Canaria to find out it has been delayed for seven hours. Not scheduled to leave until 20.55.”

Someone else said: “Bristol Zoo, sorry airport was the same for the Mrs on Friday. She made her flight only because it was delayed.

“Try employing more people, even on a temporary basis to cover the holidays. Oh come great asteroid!”

A fourth traveller added: “Thanks for the incompetent staffing, a six hour delay absolutely atrocious service #bristolairport surprised the airlines use your airport.”

It comes after EasyJet announced it would cancel more than 200 flights from Gatwick over the next ten days, while Tui dished another blow with a “small number” scrapped from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester.

EasyJet said its cancellations would affect about 24 flights per day from London’s Gatwick airport between May 28 and June 6.

Meanwhile, Tui said “various operational and supply chain issues” are to blame for their flight cancellations.

It comes after 200 flights were cancelled on Thursday due to an IT glitch.

Many passengers fumed they were stranded abroad due to the chaos.

Some also lost thousands of pounds after being forced to cancel their holidays or book onto other flights.

At Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester airports – the worst-affected by the cancellations – huge queues stretched back as Brits battled to travel abroad.

Of the latest cancellations, easyJet spokeswoman said: “We have taken the decision to make advance cancellations of around 24 Gatwick flights per day starting from tomorrow 28 May until 6 June.

“We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancellations and inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights, however we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period.

“Customers are being informed from today (Friday) and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulations.”

A Tui spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to customers who have experienced flight delays or a flight cancellation.

“Delays have been caused due to a combination of factors and we are doing everything we can to keep customers updated, and will provide refreshments and, where appropriate, provide hotel accommodation.

“Where we have made the difficult decision to cancel a small number of flights, customers will receive a full refund within 14 days and we will contact them directly to help them try and find another holiday.

“We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Of the delay on the Manchester-Kos flight, a spokesperson for TUI added: “We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to our customers on flight TOM2680 from Manchester and Kos, on Saturday 28th May who were delayed to a combination of factors causing significant operational disruption.

“Unfortunately, we felt the impact to customers holiday was too great and took the difficult decision to cancel the flight.

“We contacted affected customers as soon as we became aware of the change and all customers will receive a full refund within 14 days. We understand how disappointing and frustrating this is and we do apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Bristol Airport has been approached for comment.

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