31 March 2023 , 10:00
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EasyJet passengers claim they were left 'stranded' at an airport in the middle of the night after their flight was diverted.
The holidaymakers claim they were told their flight would be diverted to Cardiff Airport in the early hours of Friday morning, and ended up landing in the Welsh capital's airport with no way of getting home, Wales Online reported.
The airline said it was forced to land in Cardiff as a delay to its take-off time meant it would've reached Bristol Airport after the night curfew.
However, Bristol Airport said the diversion was due to planned maintenance work to its runway.
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The stranded passengers had to figure out how to get home at 3am (WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)Passengers who arrived in Cardiff Airport at around 3am with no transport criticised the lack of support for them to help them get home, claiming that disabled people and the elderly caught up in the chaos.
Alison Britton, from Pembrokeshire, said: "There was an issue with the door which was resolved, but delayed the aircraft by only minutes. We had to divert and land in Cardiff leaving hundreds stranded.
"There were vulnerable individuals in wheelchairs and elderly people left to their own devices at 3am in the morning.
"It is absolutely disgusting. The pilot and crew were fantastic and communication was brilliant they too were also just left at Cardiff Airport.
"We had the massive inconvenience and additional expense of hiring a taxi.
"I had to pay for a taxi to get me to Bristol Airport for me to collect my car and then I had to drive home to Pembrokeshire. The taxi fare cost £150."
An equally as frustrated Dave Stone added: "Thanks easyJet for abandoning us at Cardiff Airport at 3am and leaving us to find our way back to Bristol after promising to make arrangements."
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said that there had been ongoing maintenance on the runway which was responsible for the diversion.
They said this had been planned and that it ended up only affecting one flight.
"Bristol Airport completed planned routine maintenance of the runway overnight 29 and 30 March 2023," the spokesperson said.
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Lengthy queues have built up at Bristol Airport this morning (file photo) (Brendan Marshall / SWNS)"After liaison with the contractor the commencement of the work was delayed to accept the arrival of flights arriving off schedule due to French Air Traffic Control industrial action earlier in the day.
"The fight arriving from Alicante experienced a delay of over one hour (scheduled time of arrival @ 01.15h, estimated time of arrival @ 02.20h).
"As the maintenance work could not be delayed any further, after liaison with the airline the decision was made to divert the aircraft to an alternative airport, so the work could continue. This was the only flight impacted throughout the day.
“Bristol Airport remains operating as normal and safety will always be our top priority for our customers, airline partners and colleagues.
"We apologise to any customers who have experienced inconvenience and thank them for the patience and understanding.”
Meanwhile a spokesperson for easyJet said: "EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY2726 from Alicante to Bristol on 29 March was required to divert to Cardiff due to earlier delays caused by air traffic control restrictions, which meant the aircraft would not have been able to reach Bristol before the airport’s night curfew.
“We did all possible to minimise the impact of the disruption for our customers providing hotel accommodation where required and as unfortunately there was limited coach availability in Bristol we advised customers that they will be reimbursed for alternative onward transport arrangements.
"We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.”
Today is likely to be a chaotic one for air travel in the UK, due to two high profile strikes.
French air traffic control workers have walked out, leading Ryanair and British Airways to cancel dozens of flights.
Air traffic controllers can retire aged 57 in France and are exempt from the pension age rise proposed by Emmanuel Macron from 62 to 64.
But the controllers are still striking in solidarity with workers who are affected.
At Heathrow Airport security workers represented by Unite are walking out from today over pay and conditions.
A source at the airport said that delays were minimal this morning and that contingency plans were "working well".