Passengers on a flight which was diverted to Gatwick have said they were left "stranded" after claiming transport back to Bristol was not provided. This comes amid further travel chaos at Bristol Airport as some flights are diverted due to bad weather and French air traffic control strikes.
Several flights scheduled to leave today to Edinburgh and Pisa were diverted, and passengers on an EasyJet flight from Malaga to Bristol Airport were diverted to Gatwick in the early hours of this morning. Some passengers claimed they were delayed by eight hours by the diversion, while another said they received a text at 3.20am saying passengers should make their own way back to Bristol, which they would be reimbursed for.
Angry passengers posted to Twitter saying they were told there would be coaches which would take them to Bristol after the plane was rerouted to Gatwick. However, a text shown to BristolLive which the recipient claimed was from EasyJet advised passengers to make their own "reasonably priced arrangements back to Bristol".
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Another passenger posted a screenshot of their flight tracker, which indicated the flight was diverted due to "poor weather conditions in Bristol". The update, issued at approximately midnight, said: "We are very sorry that your flight will be diverted.
"This is due to poor weather conditions in Bristol which are below safe operating limits. The disruption to your flight is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance."
The update went on to say: "We are working to arrange onward transport. Pleaser do not try to arrange your own transport at this time.
"If you find your own transport when we could have provided it for you, we will not be able to reimburse you for those expenses."
A further update, given shortly before 2am, added: "Onward transport to Bristol has been arranged for you. Taxis are waiting outside Costa Coffee in London Gatwick North Terminal who will take you to Bristol Airport.
"A number of cars are waiting in position now. If you need any further assistance please speak to a member of staff."
However, at 2.30am, the tweeter posted the messages saying there were "two flights from Spain to Gatwick both needing to go to Bristol. Where are these taxis then?"
Another passenger, speaking to BristolLive, said: "Well we were late leaving Malaga by about 90 mins, headed for Bristol and somewhere close to Brittany the pilot announced we were rerouting to Gatwick due to poor weather and/or runway maintenance at Bristol.
"That was it. He said DHL would be there with coaches. When we got there, no DHL, no coaches and about three different flights that should have been in Bristol.
"There was literally no one there when we left the terminal at about 2. There were young women trying to get to Cornwall, others from Devon. Quite a few we’re already 24 hours late because the same flight the night before had been cancelled.
"A lot of people genuinely stressed out with no idea how to get home. No trains from Paddington until 5.30, no other coach options etc etc.
"I spoke to two students who were totally panicking as they had no means to pay their way home and the taxi desk was looking for north of £300. But even then the queue at the desk was overwhelming. And then the text arrived at just before 3.30..."
The EasyJet website advises customers who have had their flights cancelled: "If your aircraft is diverted, we’ll do all that we can to get you to your final destination. Our ground crew will keep you up to date with alternative travel.
"If for any reason we’re unable to arrange a transfer, we may ask you to make your own arrangements. We’ll reimburse you for trains, buses or taxis, but we cannot reimburse unreasonable costs such as private limousines."
EasyJet has been contacted for a statement.
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