Big freeze causes more flight disruption
Airline passengers are being told to take extra time getting to airports and check their flight status before heading out as the big freeze continues to create travel havoc.
Flights are currently operating out of Stansted Airport, although there are delays. Yesterday, the airport was forced to cancel services, which led to 300 people without anywhere to go last night.
Others were held on runways and left waiting for luggage. Some passengers claimed they waited up to four hours for their luggage before being told to go home and come back.
Twenty seven inbound and 27 outbound Ryanair flights were among flights cancelled at Stansted yesterday. EasyJet also cancelled some services. At Luton, 50 flights were cancelled as a result of the severe weather.
One man, Christy O’Leary, whose flight to Stockholm was cancelled, told Sky News that Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary was a long-distance cousin. He said: "I’m ashamed of him."
Cold Feet star Fay Ripley accused Ryanair of ‘terrible treatment’ after tweeting that she spent 10 hours on a runway waiting to take off for Copenhagen..
Ryanair said it ‘sincerely apologised’ to customers and said a ‘small number’ of flights had been cancelled at Liverpool, Luton and Stansted.
The airline said in a statement: "Due to snow-related runway closures at several UK airports (including Liverpool, Luton and Stansted) we regret we were forced to cancel a small number of flights yesterday (27 Dec).
"All affected customers were contacted by email and SMS text message and advised of their rebooking options.
"We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by these weather cancellations and disruptions, which are entirely beyond our control.
"Flights are operating as scheduled today with some minor knock-on delays. We advise customers to check the status of their flight on the Ryanair.com website before travelling to the airport."
Stansted said all flights are expected to operate as scheduled today, but reminded passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
EasyJet asked passengers to check its Flight Tracker and allow plenty of time to get to the airport.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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