London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 01, 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
Royal Mail Keeps First-Class Stamps at £1.80 and Second-Class at 91p
Church of England Prepares Formal Apology Over Historical Forced Adoptions
UK Competition Regulator Caps Veterinary Prescription Fees at £21
UK Aviation Authorities Roll Out Airspace Changes to Reduce Flight Delays
England Makes School Allergy Policies Mandatory Under Benedict’s Law
England and Wales Tighten Child Safeguarding Checks by Removing Supervision Exemption
Cornwall Geothermal Plant Begins Commercial Power and Lithium Operations
UK Inflation Holds Near 2.9% as Energy Costs Remain a Risk
UK Productivity Growth Averages 1.1% Over Two Years, Resolution Foundation Says
England Introduces Nationwide School Smartphone Ban and Uniform Limits
UK Gives Border Officers New Powers to Seize Migrants’ Mobile Phones
Green Party Wins First Westminster By-Election in Gorton and Denton
UK and EU Advance Gibraltar Border Deal Allowing Spanish Guards to Conduct Arrival Checks
Robert Jenrick Joins Reform UK After Losing Conservative Whip
Andy Burnham Faces First Prime Minister’s Questions After Labour Cabinet Overhaul
ScottishPower Recycles Nearly All Materials From Historic Hagshaw Hill Wind Farm
Millions Travel Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for Summer Bank Holiday
Met Office Issues Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Across Southern England
Four Arrested After Bank Holiday Stabbing Violence in Kettering
Scottish Chamber of Commerce Warns Tax and Business Costs Risk Holding Back Scotland
UK Government Launches Youth Employment Drive With Major Retailers
UK and Ukraine Advance AI and Defence Technology Partnership
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Moves to Exclude Serious Offenders From Early Release
Twelve Arrested After A66 Crash Kills Seven, Including Two Police Officers
Bank of England Governor Warns AI Investment Boom Could Trigger Global Market Correction
London Science Museum Ends Long-Running BP Sponsorship
Scottish Homeowners Prepare Valuation Challenges Over Proposed Mansion Tax
UK Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Undercover Police in Spycops Scandal
James Cleverly Leaves Shadow Cabinet to Run for London Mayor
Avanti West Coast Drivers Agree 3.6% Pay Rise, Averting Strike Action
Allianz Explores £5 Billion Takeover of British Roadside Assistance Group AA
UK Government Retreats From Plan to Unfreeze Personal Income Tax Threshold
Northern Ireland Leaders Press UK Government for Sustainable Funding Settlement
UK Health Agency Warns Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Could Worsen
NHS Warns Autism and ADHD Assessment Costs Have Become Unsustainable
UK Rejects Moratorium on AI Data Centres Despite Energy and Water Concerns
Thames Water Creditors Offer Government Golden Share in £10 Billion Rescue Plan
UK Warns Defence Executives of Russian Assassination and Sabotage Threats
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Inflation Risks
UK Restricts Early Prison Release for Serious Offenders as Jails Near Capacity
Genetic Study Finds Medieval Britain’s ‘Conquest Man’ Had Scandinavian Origins
Kemi Badenoch Plans Conservative Frontbench Reshuffle After Cleverly Departure
Nissan Sunderland Plant Highlighted as Key Economic Anchor for North East England
UK Arts Report Finds Women Face Persistent Barriers to Career Progression
Private Equity Consolidation of UK Veterinary Practices Raises Consumer Cost Concerns
South West Water Ranked Worst in England for Environmental Performance
British Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise, Averting Strike Threat
UK Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Officers in Undercover Policing Scandal
James Cleverly Leaves Conservative Shadow Cabinet to Run for London Mayor
Allianz Explores £5 Billion Takeover of British Roadside Assistance Group AA
×