British holidaymakers faced a distressing ordeal at Lanzarote airport over the weekend, with some forced to sleep on the cold terminal floor and children going without food after a flight to Manchester was cancelled.
A Nightmarish Delay for Manchester-Bound Passengers
The trouble began on Saturday evening when the 8.15pm Jet2 flight from Lanzarote to Manchester was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. What followed was a 16-hour delay, leaving many travellers, including young families, stranded without adequate accommodation or supplies.
While some passengers were fortunate enough to be placed in hotels overnight, others were not so lucky. They were reportedly left to fend for themselves inside the airport terminal after it closed at midnight.
"We Slept on the Floor": A Passenger's Account
Carl Bickerton, 62, from Stockport, was returning from a week's holiday with his wife and 16-year-old son. He described a "bizarre" sequence of events to the Manchester Evening News.
"We got to the airport at about 5.45pm ready to go," Mr Bickerton said. After an initial delay, passengers boarded the aircraft, only to remain seated for four hours before being told to disembark just before midnight.
"We had no indication of what was going on. We kept being told we were waiting for clearance," he explained. In a strange twist to keep spirits up, the captain allowed children to visit the cockpit and make announcements over the tannoy.
Back in the terminal, the situation deteriorated. "It became a bit chaotic and tempers were getting high," Mr Bickerton recounted. With hotel receptions unresponsive, many had nowhere to go. "I slept on the floor. My lad slept on the cases. The majority of people slept on chairs or the floor."
Limited Assistance and Eventual Departure
Passengers described a scene of distress, with some individuals in need of medication and others in tears. A Jet2 manager worked to assist, prioritising those with disabilities, but resources were stretched.
Those stranded were given 20 Euro vouchers for food and drink. In the early hours, they received complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits. At 6am on Sunday, they were informed their rescheduled flight would depart at noon.
The family finally boarded and arrived home on Sunday afternoon, while those who secured hotel rooms were reportedly rebooked on flights for Monday. Mr Bickerton has since complained to Jet2, acknowledging the airline has been "pretty sound about it."
When approached for comment by MirrorOnline, Jet2 did not immediately respond. A spokesperson for César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport stated: "Due to adverse weather conditions yesterday, some flights were diverted and/or cancelled. Passenger assistance is the responsibility of the airlines. The airport collaborates with them to support the operations."
