London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026

Travel disruption: 'We were on the plane when our flight was cancelled'

Travel disruption: 'We were on the plane when our flight was cancelled'

More than 30,000 people face disruption to their half-term travel plans over the next week, after airlines cancel dozens of flights.

For some holidaymakers, it will be their first chance to get away since the pandemic hit more than two years ago.

Some told the BBC of their heartbreak and anger.

Rob Gore spent 14 hours at Manchester Airport on Friday.

He had planned to fly to Turkey with his family for his sister-in-law's wedding, but his flight was delayed.

After hours of waiting, he and his family finally boarded a plane - only to be ushered back off it at the last minute.

"When the news was announced on the plane by the pilot the kids just burst into tears," he said.

The pilot said they had run out of hours they were able to work, so everybody had to disembark, he said.

"It was just an absolute farce from Tui, no reps available until right at the very end," he said, describing his treatment as "disgusting".

The trip would have been Rob's first since he began receiving cancer treatment.

"My heart goes out to our kids," he says. "It's their first holiday in three years, especially after the pandemic. They've been heartbroken."

After two nights in a Manchester hotel, he's hoping to fly out Sunday in time for the wedding on Monday. "But nothing's concrete," he said on Saturday afternoon.

Tui said it has apologised to those impacted by the cancelled flight, adding it contacted customers as soon as possible and offered overnight accommodation, meals and refreshments while they planned a new flight.


'It got quite heated'


Fred Toon was due to fly from Gatwick to Menorca in Spain on Saturday with his wife, three children and his wife's parents.

Half an hour before they were due to board their flight was cancelled.

Airlines are supposed to refund passengers who book alternative flights - but that's not always easy.

"It would have cost us more than £4,000, which I know you can claim back from the airline, but we haven't got £4,000 to go out of the account to buy the tickets," Fred said.

"It's heart-breaking to see all the children crying. It wasn't just my children - there were probably 20 to 30 different families with their children crying."

Fred Toon and his daughter, Ayla, 10, were due to fly to Mahón in Menorca


After his flight was cancelled, he said staff told him to manage his booking online.

But the only flight on offer was on Thursday - and his accommodation was booked from Saturday to Saturday.

"They were no help whatsoever. It was getting quite heated down there. Emotions were running very high," he said.


'No water'


In Manchester, Jo, who did not give her last name, had her Tui flight to Greece delayed on Friday.

She said the airport was running out of supplies for all the delayed passengers: "It was like the start of the pandemic - people were panic buying drinks."

The restaurants and shops "couldn't deal with the capacity. Families had no nappies, no vouchers, no water," she added.

EasyJet and Tui have apologised for the disruption, blaming a number of issues including air traffic restrictions and runway works.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
UK Ministers Warn Expanded North Sea Drilling Would Deepen Exposure to Global Energy Volatility
Delayed UK Defence Investment Plan Leaves Suppliers Under Severe Financial Strain
Can Iran Strike the UK? Assessing the Real Military Threat as Conflict Escalates
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Linked to Luxury Marbella Villa Through UK Corporate Structure
Casey Bloys Navigates HBO Max UK Launch, Paramount Integration and Industry Buzz Over Netflix Meeting
Iran Conflict Sparks Sharp Turbulence in UK Mortgage Market, Reaching Pandemic-Era Disruption Levels
Major Donor Urges University of Kentucky to Reconsider Mitch Barnhart’s Post-Retirement Role
United Kingdom Moves to Lead International Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
Senior UK Advocate Criticises Barnhart Retirement Appointment, Calls for Reconsideration
UK Finds No Evidence of Direct Iranian Threat to Britain, Says Prime Minister Starmer
Assessing Iran’s Strike Capability and the UK’s Readiness Amid Rising Tensions
NATO Unable to Confirm Iran’s Role in Strike on UK-US Base as Tehran Denies Involvement
University of Kentucky’s Youling Xiong Receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award for 2026
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
Duchess of Sussex Secures ‘As Ever’ Trademark Rights in Australia Ahead of High-Profile Visit
UK Reaffirms Security as Officials Reject Claims of Immediate Iranian Missile Threat
Rising Middle East Tensions Spark ‘Trumpflation’ Debate Over Impact on UK Households
UK Minister Says No Evidence Iran Can Strike Europe Despite Heightened Warnings
British-Iranians Voice Safety Concerns to Authorities as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Confirmed Meningitis Cases Linked to Kent Outbreak Revised Down to Twenty
UK Government Sees No Evidence Iran Can Strike London Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Debate Grows Over Recognition of Indigenous Cultural Icons in the United Kingdom
Iran Missile Launch Toward Diego Garcia Raises Questions After Failed Strike on US–UK Base
Donald Trump Amplifies Viral Satirical Clip Highlighting UK–US Political Dynamics
UK Satirical Show Draws Attention with Sketch Referencing Trump and Prince Andrew
Meghan Markle’s Possible UK Return Sparks Renewed Attention on Sussex Role
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
Northern Lights Expected Over UK Skies Tonight Amid Strong Solar Activity
UK Condemns Iran Missile Strike and Warns Against Threats to British Personnel
UK Warns of Global Flight Disruptions as Iran Conflict Escalates Under Trump’s Leadership
UK Condemns Iran After Missile Strike Targets Strategic Diego Garcia Base
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in UK Reinforces Urgency of Vaccination Campaigns
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
UK Rules Out Cyprus Base Role in Joint US Self-Defence Framework
UK Ends Hereditary Peerage Rights in Parliament in Historic Constitutional Reform
Lord Walney Warns of Expanding Iranian Influence Networks Within the United Kingdom
Iranian National Among Two Arrested After Attempt to Access UK Nuclear Submarine Base
Deregulation, Artificial Intelligence, and Fraud Laws Reshape UK Financial Services Landscape
×