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

HOLIDAYMAKERS were plunged into further chaos today after being hit with eight hour flight delays and hundreds of trips scrapped over text.

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

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Passengers say they have endured a second day of chaos at major UK airports today with travellers at Bristol complaining about delays and staff.

Those at Manchester Airport have also reported long queues for baggage and check-in as families try to getaway for the half term.

One holidaymaker in Bristol 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 wrote: “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” were to blame for their flights being axed.

On Saturday, some Tui customers were forced to wait four hours for a pilot to show up for a flight from Manchester to Kos – something the company has since apologised for.

Others in Bristol reported being stranded in the airport from 1pm to 9pm, only to have their flight cancelled by email, Bristol Live reports.

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.

TRAVEL CHAOS

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 spokesperson for Tui also apologised.

“Delays have been caused due to a combination of factors,” they said, “and we are doing everything we can to keep customers updated.”

They added: “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.”

The company has also apologised for the inconvenience to customers on Saturday’s TOM2680 from Manchester and Kos, which was “delayed to a combination of factors causing significant operational disruption”.

It said customers will receive a full refund.

“We contacted affected customers as soon as we became aware of the change and all customers will receive a full refund within 14 days.”

The latest chaos comes after Brits were urged to check travel advice before heading to the port of Dover this week.

The Department for Transport warned roads in Kent are “extremely busy” due to an “exceptionally high number” of travellers.

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