A family of four from north Wales has been left stranded in Greece for more than a day after their TUI flight home was cancelled, delaying their return to see a close relative receiving palliative care in the UK.
Craig and Becky Davies and their two children had been due to fly from Preveza, in northwest Greece, to Manchester at 12:40pm on Wednesday, August 12, on a TUI flight. However, they were told the aircraft could not fly because a required service-kit part was missing.
No TUI representative at airport
The family say there was not a single TUI representative available at the airport to properly assist passengers. Instead, passengers received a message from TUI offering €30 per person for food and drink, but the family say they were left without clear information about when or how they would get home.
More than a day after their original flight was scheduled, they were still trying to find a way home. While a rescue aircraft was discussed, on Thursday evening there was no confirmed aircraft, flight number or departure time.
Five-hour coach journey to Athens
On August 13, the family said they were eventually put on a five-hour coach journey to Athens, where they were told they would potentially board a rescue flight which still was not confirmed.
For the family, the situation is particularly distressing because Becky's father is receiving palliative care in the UK. As every hour goes by they become more uncertain about when Becky will be able to get back to her family.
Family's plea
Craig said: "We're not asking for anything special. We just need to get home."
While the family say they understand that aircraft can develop technical problems, they say they do not understand why the passengers were left without a TUI representative and then put on a five-hour journey to Athens without a confirmed rescue flight.
Craig continued: "We can accept that planes go wrong. What we can't accept is being left in the dark, having no TUI representative there and then being sent five hours across the country without knowing if there is even going to be a plane at the other end."
TUI have been asked for a comment.
