Aberdeen-bound passengers due to fly home from holiday in Tenerife on Sunday had their flights delayed for a third time last night.
Around 180 passengers were left in limbo in a hotel on the Canary Island before being offered £400-worth of holiday vouchers per person in compensation.
In a text sent to passengers, operator Tui explained that a replacement crew member took unwell on a flight.
Then a crew member due to operate the flight last night became unwell following a delayed departure after an incident at East Midlands Airport.
On Sunday passengers were told their initial flight was delayed due to diversion caused by the weather.
The flight was meant to take off on Sunday at 8.25pm, and was rescheduled to 11.30pm on Monday.
But on Monday night the replacement flight was cancelled. A new departure time of 2pm today was given.
Tenerife to Aberdeen flight delayed for third time
In a text to passengers, it stated: “We’re really sorry again about the disruption to your flight.
“Having exhausted all avenues, we’re really sorry that your flight will now be delayed overnight and will depart on Tuesday, August 22.”
It said a crew was already in Tenerife to operate the flight home, but they needed to have “legal rest hours” before the flight, so it was moved to 2pm.
Passengers, who had earlier in the day been moved to a hotel, were told they were all unable to stay at there overnight.
Coaches were provided to allow people to return to the airport to pick up bags, before passengers were taken to another all-inclusive hotel to spend a further night on the island.
Passenger Ashley Ritchie, 37, complained about the lack of communication from Tui.
She said: “Nobody’s come to see us, so we’re just sat here twiddling our thumbs hoping that somebody will come and speak to us soon, but everyone that’s on the flight is just currently in the same position as ourselves.
“We’re all just sitting here waiting for someone to come and speak to us.”
‘Significant disruption’
A Tui Uk spokeswoman said: “We acknowledge the significant disruption for customers on the Tenerife to Aberdeen flight, and we’d like to apologise for this experience.
“Customers were provided with overnight accommodation in one of our all-inclusive resorts, transfers, meals and a holiday voucher as a gesture of goodwill. Customers will also be entitled to claim EU261 compensation.”
She continued: “We do our best to get customers to and from their holidays on time, and due to a number of unfortunate external factors, we recognise on this occasion we fell short of our usual high standards.
“We’d again like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their patience and understanding.
“The flight is scheduled to depart Tenerife early this afternoon.”
Conversation