Aer Lingus has scrapped at least 11 more flights as its cancellation numbers now approach 50 in just six days.
In a statement to the Irish Mirror, the airline last night confirmed that thousands of disappointed passengers were affected when it axed 22 flights which were due to fly today and yesterday. These are in addition to 13 cancellations last Sunday, three on Monday and 12 on Wednesday.
The national carrier has blamed the cancellations on Covid cases, problems at Heathrow Airport in London and a strike in France. The latest cancellations affect eight cities in five countries, including Berlin, Bordeaux, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, London, Munich and Paris.
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These are on top of cancellations at Amsterdam, Brussels, Faro, Frankfurt, Geneva, Lyon and Split in recent days. An Aer Lingus spokesperson confirmed that Covid was the main cause of disruption. They said: “Due to a spike in Covid cases, Aer Lingus had to cancel five return flights and one direct flight on June 30 and three return flights and one direct flight on July 1.”
However, some stranded Aer Lingus passengers took to social media accusing the airline of a lack of communication about the cancellations, claiming there was “no warning” and “zero explanation”. Among them was Today FM radio presenter Dermot Whelan who revealed his “devastated” family waited nine hours in Dublin Airport to fly to Italy before the Aer Lingus flight was cancelled.
Meanwhile, Ryanair told the Irish Mirror that it had no flight cancellations yesterday and does not foresee any today. A spokesperson added: “Ryanair confirms that there has been no disruption to its Irish flights as a result of minor and poorly supported union-led strikes in Spain.”
Travel experts have been urging holidaymakers to take out insurance and are pointing out that consumers’ rights are very strong under EU regulations. Passengers’ options when hit with flight cancellations are a free re-routing of their journey as soon as possible or at a later date or a full refund within seven days.
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