Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded at Cardiff Airport after a flight was delayed for more than 10 hours, ruining the first day of their summer holidays. Families with children have been forced to sleep on the floor of the busy terminal, which one woman described as 'filthy'.
Flight Delay Details
The TUI flight from Cardiff to Faro was scheduled to depart at 6:40 am on Thursday morning. However, passengers who arrived in the early hours have been waiting ever since. The airline cited pilot sickness as the reason for the delay, with an estimated new departure time of 4 pm.
Passenger Experiences
Hannah Morris, 35, was traveling to Portugal with her husband, their two children aged three and seven, and her brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and their two children aged three and eight. The family of eight arrived at the airport at 4:30 am but were informed around 7 am of the delay.
Morris described the airport as 'absolutely packed' with no chairs for children, forcing people to sleep on the floor. She also noted that tables were filthy and there was feces on the bathroom floor. One family with a five-month-old baby had to retrieve their luggage because they only had supplies for the flight, and another woman needed insulin from her suitcase.
Airport Response
A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport apologized for the inconvenience, stating that the delay was caused by a flight deck availability issue within the airline's operation. They emphasized that cleanliness is taken seriously, with toilet facilities inspected every 30 minutes. The airport has provided complimentary food and drink vouchers, and a replacement aircraft and crew are en route.
The spokesperson added: 'We recognise that delays can be particularly challenging for families with young children. While Cardiff Airport does not have dedicated sleeping facilities, the terminal offers a number of spacious seating areas where passengers can wait comfortably during periods of disruption.'
Morris, who usually flies from Bristol Airport, said her family will never fly from Cardiff again. Her £3,500 seven-day trip has now seen them spend their first day stuck in the airport.
TUI has been contacted for comment.
