Last night, Sunday June 11, easyJet axed 54 flights scheduled to depart from Gatwick Airport due to severe weather conditions.
A further 55 flights are set to be cancelled today, meaning the travel plans of 15,000 passengers will be disrupted.
A spokesperson for easyJet told Express.co.uk: “Thunderstorms in the Gatwick area which restricted the number of arrivals and departures on Sunday 11 June unfortunately resulted in disruption at London Gatwick Airport, including some diversions and cancellations which is having a knock-on impact this morning as a number of aircraft are out of position.
“We are doing all possible to minimise the impact on our customers, providing those on cancelled flights with options to rebook or receive a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required.
“The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and while this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.”
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A spokesperson for Gatwick airport said: “Air traffic control suspended flights while a storm passed over the South East.”
Gatwick Express, which runs between Gatwick Airport and central London, was suspended on Monday, due to urgent repairs needed in the tracks after a set of points were damaged in East Croydon, reported The Daily Mail.
Holidaymakers travelling to or from Gatwick Airport were advised to use Southern and Thameslink services, although these are slower as they stop at intermediate stations.
Many people with plans to fly from Gatwick Airport hit back at easyJet and airport staff when their flights were cancelled.
Jayne Thompson took to Twitter, branding the situation “totally unacceptable”. She tweeted: “Total chaos in Gatwick tonight! Multiple cancelled flights, no support, no local hotels with availability, login to manage booking jammed, two staff on the floor swamped by 1000s of panicking travellers.”
In a second tweet she added: “The heat in the airport was suffocating! Added to that we had to queue to produce passports in a jammed passport control hall to get back out again! I’ve honestly never experienced and witnessed anything like it!”
She told Twitter that she “gave up trying to get booked into a hotel in London and jumped on the train to Brighton”, branding the ordeal “absolutely disgraceful”, with older people left without extra “help or consideration”.
Twitter user @enabler9 seconded this: “My wife dropped by easyJet in Birmingham too – fend for yourself and no communication. Some older folk helpless and in tears.”
@mcphizzled also claimed to be affected by the chaos: “Same thing happening in Manchester airport tonight – flight cancelled whilst on runway no support no hotels no flight options. Tens of flights cancelled across your network tonight. Not acceptable what is going on @easyJet.”
A spokesperson for London Gatwick Airport told Express.co.uk: “Due to unsettled weather conditions and thunderstorms across the south of England and Europe yesterday, temporary air traffic restrictions were put in place, which resulted in some flights being delayed and cancelled. London Gatwick apologises to passengers for any inconvenience. Further thunderstorms are expected today, so passengers should contact their airline for further information.”
Express.co.uk has reached out to Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport for comment.
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