Monday 6 June 2022 10:55 PM Parents hit out after pupils risk missing crucial exams as flights chaos goes on trends now
Thousands of holidaymakers were scrambling to find alternative ways of getting home yesterday after hundreds of flight cancellations left them stranded in Europe.
Travellers crossed borders instead of waiting for later flights as they raced to return to work and school after half-term.
Many said they were forced to shell out hundreds of pounds for new flights or other modes of transport such as Eurostar trains.
Among them were teachers needing to get back to the classroom and A-level pupils who risk missing exams and even losing university places.
EasyJet has cancelled more than 300 flights across Europe in the past three days, with more than 2,000 delayed.
The budget airline said last night that it will continue to axe at least 30 flights a day with passengers set to typically receive just three days' notice. Dozens of the cancellations were made at the last minute and affected customers said they were not being offered alternative flights home for several days.
Jenny O'Hara and her family are stuck in Fuerteventura until Thursday Pictured: Harrison on the left, Rupert in the middle & Elyott on the right and Partner Tom Nowell (Harrison is his son, others are Jenny's)
This is despite them having the right to be booked on an alternative flight as close to their original departure time as possible – even if it is with a rival airline. They are also entitled to food and hotel expenses.
But easyJet customers said it was near impossible to contact customer services in search of answers.
Budget airline Wizz Air also made dozens of cancellations over the weekend. British Airways axed more than 100 short-haul flights at Heathrow yesterday, although it stressed that affected passengers were informed several weeks in advance.
Holiday firm Tui is cancelling six daily flights at Manchester until the end of the month.
The aviation industry is struggling to cope with the post-pandemic rise in demand for foreign travel at a time of severe staff shortages.
Kevin, 51 and Lisa Owen, 50. Easyjet customers were left 'crying' in 'complete chaos' after being left stranded on a Portuguese island
Some operators were accused of letting passengers make bookings that could not be fulfilled.
Father-of-four Joe Murray, from Milton Keynes, booked return flights to Tenerife which were due to land back in the UK on Wednesday in time for Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But his family missed the four-day weekend after Wizz Air cancelled their return
