The airline has responded to passenger concerns online after a 14-hour delay
EasyJet has issued an alert after passengers say they were left waiting hours and hours for their flight due to a major delay. The budget airline is popular nationwide for its wide range of flights and affordable fares.
However, as with any airline, unforeseen circumstances can lead to delays, resulting in passengers waiting longer to board their plane. In a recent online post, one EasyJet passenger claimed they had waited 12 hours, with another two hours to go, because their flight was “delayed”.
Explaining the situation and asking EasyJet for input, the passenger, called Gillian Telfer, took to X to say: “@EasyJet, our flight to Glasgow from Rome was due to depart today at 11.55am. We were told that due to a technical issue there would be a delay.”
They added: “It is now 00.20am and we have an estimated flight at 2am. There are many families here all desperately tired.”
Responding to the post in a fresh alert on its official X account today (April 11), a spokesperson for the airline said there are “many factors” that may delay a flight, including “safety reasons”. They explained: “Hi Gillian, thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your flight to Glasgow from Rome was delayed.
“Unfortunately, many factors come together that can lead to our flights being delayed. This may be for safety reasons and required regulatory approvals. Thanks, Anga.”
Flight delays can last for many hours since airlines have very strict schedules. Just one small problem can cause a ‘ripple effect’ that affects many other flights.
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, if your flight is delayed for several hours, you are typically entitled to assistance regardless of the cause. If the delay is two hours or more, passengers are entitled to food and drink vouchers.
For delays that last three hours or more, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation, especially if the delay was within the airline’s control, for instance, a technical fault. If a delay lasts overnight, however, passengers are entitled to hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
A statement on the EasyJet website reads: “The best place to keep up to date on the status of your flight with real-time information is via our Flight Tracker, which can also be accessed via our mobile app. If your flight is more than two days in advance, please sign in by using your booking reference and last name or your account details.”
The airline says that if a delay is longer than five hours, passengers can change their flights for a later date, subject to seats being available. Alternatively, they can cancel their delayed flight and apply for a full refund.
Visit EasyJet’s Disruption Help Hub to find out more. For information on your entitlements, visit EasyJet’s notice of rights page.
