Vicky Chapman, 26, from Pensby, was among 105 passengers left stranded at Milan’s Linate Airport after passport control delays prevented them reaching their 11am Manchester flight
A family from Merseyside have been left stranded in Milan after an EasyJet flight departed without them. Vicky Chapman, 26, from Pensby on the Wirral, was due to fly back to Manchester this morning with her five year old son Fredrik and other family members following a holiday.
Vicky revealed she was among 105 passengers abandoned at Milan’s Linate Airport. The 11am flight was delayed for 59 minutes while passengers were held up at passport control, but ultimately took off as the flight crew were approaching the end of their mandated time limits, the ECHO understands.
Vicky, her partner Adam Hoijord, son Fredrik, mum Lynne Chapman and brother Dan Chapman are now stuck in Milan until Tuesday. EasyJet said that while the delays were outside of its control, it was sorry for any inconvenience caused.
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Vicky said: “We got to the airport with more than enough time, and got to our gate at 9.30am, but we were totally refused entry through passport control. We were then told that we are a ‘no show’ on our flight because we did not get to the gate on time, even though passport control had issues and they would not let us through.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
“We were passed from pillar to post for three hours and no-one helped us. It was so hot in the airport, people were vomiting, people were almost passing out. We’re being told that Tuesday is the earliest we can get back, and that we have to fly to Gatwick. We’ve had to pay out of pocket for an Airbnb.” The hold-ups come as the European Union introduces new border checks. The Foreign Office has cautioned travellers may need to “wait longer than usual” at the border.
EasyJet confirmed that some passengers experienced delays at passport control in Milan, and passengers had been told to allow extra time to navigate through the airport due to longer than usual queues at passport control.
The airline said customers would be provided with complimentary flight transfers. This morning, it was reported the Foreign Office had revised its travel advice for 29 European countries, including Italy, following the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout.
Visitors to the Schengen area may be required to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photograph. On an initial visit to a Schengen country, travellers may be requested to register details at a dedicated booth before moving to the immigration desk.
The Foreign Office said: “You may need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.
“EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays. You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit.” A spokesperson for EasyJet said: “We are aware that some passengers departing from Milan Linate today experienced longer than usual waiting times at passport control and we advised customers due to fly to allow additional time to make their way through the airport.
“We have been doing all possible to minimise the impact of the airport queues, holding flights to allow customers extra time and providing free flight transfers for any customers who may have missed their flight including EJU5420 to Manchester.
“We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers. While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
