Passengers face 40 hour delay with ‘no food’ on TUI Cardiff Airport flight

Sign up to the Chill newsletter for UK holiday inspiration

Holidaymakers claim they were left waiting more than 40 hours to board a TUI flight from Cardiff Airport to Zakynthos in Greece.

Passengers on flights to Ibiza and Dalaman have also said they were delayed by more than 24 hours, reports WalesOnline.

Tourists were left fuming at the lack of information and say that people, including kids and OAPs, were left with little or no food during that time.

The flight was set the leave Cardiff Airport at 2pm on Tuesday May 24, but passengers were still waiting to fly on this morning, Thursday May 26.

The customers were allowed to board a flight on Wednesday evening, but were then removed once more as a health emergency made it too late to fly as the airport in Greece would be closed.

One passenger, who asked not to be named, said: "We were supposed to fly on Tuesday afternoon, they told us it had changed to 4..30pm, then they announced about 5pm that we were rescheduling to next day .

"We had to get our cases back. No names were out on the coaches, and there was no checking of names when we got to the Mercure hotel in Cardiff north, where they were putting us up for the night .

"We came back to the hotel at 7am on Wednesday when they told us it was delayed to 12pm flight. They kept delaying it then finally we boarded at 5pm was on plane for two hours then they said that somebody was ill so had to be taken off the plane . They then told us that the plane couldn’t fly to Zakynthos as airport closes overnight .

"Passengers really upset refusing to leave plane at this point."

She claimed they had very little correspondence from TUI on Wednesday and were given no vouchers for food. She also claims that when some passengers were taken to hotels to wait for the flight but the hotels were full.

Adam Crawley, from Carmarthenshire, has also been delayed. He said: "It’s been a comedy of errors by TUI from the start.

"I have seen elderly people in wheelchairs being loaded on and off buses to hotels for the past two days and shipped to hotels and back. The lack of communication has been farcical, completely pathetic."

Dylan Le Clare, who is also due to be on the flight, said: "When the flight was cancelled for a second time there was no sign of TUI members of staff anywhere. The lack of communication was very worrying.

"There was no offer of vouchers for food and was told on certain number of hotel rooms were available."

Information given this morning was that the flight was due to take off at 10.10am today (Thursday).

A flight to Ibiza was also meant to leave at 6.35am on Wednesday morning, May 25, but they were also still waiting in the early hours of this morning.

Cheap UK holidays for 2022

Planning a staycation this summer, or thinking of enjoying a mini break later in the year? We've got you covered with some of the best deals not to miss…

• Haven has family breaks from £79 – book here.
• Parkdean Resorts is offering up to £170 off week-long summer breaks – book here.
• Butlin's has midweek breaks from £81 – book here.
• Warner Leisure Hotels offer all-inclusive adults only breaks from £154 – book here.
• Lastminute.com has country and seaside escapes from £66 – book here.

One passenger, who asked not to be named, spent the night in a hotel in Bridgend after being told their flight would not be leaving on Wednesday (May 25).

She said: "Our flight was due to leave early on Wednesday morning and we were so excited as it is our first tip away without our parents, and we both worked through the pandemic so really needed a break.

"When we got to the airport, we were told there was a delay. We didn't think much of it because there are often delays, but then the time kept being put back, and then we were told it wouldn't be flying on Wednesday, and they took us to a hotel. We didn't arrive until 1.30am.

"There are lots of families affected, but the passengers have been fantastic and looking out for each other. But there has been so little communication. We are now waiting to find out when our flight will be.

"We were only going until Saturday, so not sure what is going to happen. It has been horrendous. I just want to go home now."

Do you have a travel story you'd like shared in the Daily Star? Tell us at [email protected]

A TUI spokesperson told Daily Star: "As the UK’s biggest holiday company we will never cancel flights as we know how much our customers look forward to their holiday with us. We are doing everything we can to limit any flight delays, which can happen from time to time for various operational reasons. On the rare occasion flight delays do take place we will do everything we can to support our customers.

"We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to our customers travelling from Cardiff Airport today which have been delayed due to technical issues with an aircraft.

"Customers have been offered overnight accommodation where required, and meals and refreshments. They also have the option to amend or cancel their holiday if they no longer wish to travel.

"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always our highest priority, and we would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding at this time."

Cardiff Airport was approached for comment.

• TUI
• Holidays

Source: Read Full Article