FRUSTRATED Irish punters have been left stranded in Lanzarote after their Cork-bound flight was cancelled because an Aer Lingus crew member became unwell.
The airline’s flight EI 877 was to take off on Tuesday morning at 11.10am from the holiday hotspot.
Passengers were all set to board before they were told it was delayed and then cancelled, but many passengers were not given a reason for hours, with only some hearing it was because of an unwell staff member.
Cork mum Maria blasted the lack of communication from Aer Lingus– saying that her family along with others were left without any updates for hours.
She told Neil Prendeville on Cork‘s Red FM: “Basically we were meant to be boarding. And next thing they said it was delayed and we were like ‘what’s going on?’ And then they said there was no flight at all.
“No one approached us or said anything. There was no update on what was going to happen next, when was it going to happen, when we were going to get our next flight. We were in the airport for hours.”
She fumed: “It was just a joke like, there was no update and no one knew nothing.
“We were like what’s going on, when are we going? No one knew anything.
“It’s the lack of communication on this stuff – the not knowing.”
Eventually, Aer Lingus re-routed 34 passengers back to Ireland, but others had to wait the extra day ahead of a flight home this evening.
They were provided with hotel accommodation as well as meal vouchers and late check-out in Lanzarote.
Maria said: “We didn’t leave the airport until 5pm that evening to get to our hotel after hours on end trying to keep children happy.
“They gave us accommodation after hours on end in the airport, we were hounding them like.
“We’re told now that we’re getting a flight at 9.55pm tonight.”
Aer Lingus confirmed that the a crew member was unwell and it caused the cancellation of the flight.
They also say that 18 passengers will be flown back to Dublin Airport and transferred by bus to Cork.
They apologised to their customers.
In a statement, an Aer Lingus spokeswoman said: “Regrettably, Aer Lingus can confirm Flight EI 877, June 12, from Lanzarote to Cork was cancelled due to an unwell crew member.
“The following actions have been taken by Aer Lingus to accommodate guests: 34 were re-routed to Cork last night.
“The remaining guests were provided with hotel accommodation, meal vouchers and late check-out in Lanzarote.
Most read in news
“While the majority, 81, of those impacted will be on the EI 877 to Cork this evening, 18 will be flown to Dublin (EI779) and will have an immediate coach transfer to Cork.
“We apologise most sincerely for the significant inconvenience caused.
“Guests have be advised of their rights and of Aer Lingus’s obligations under Regulation (EC) 261/2004.”