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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| March snow: Manchester Airport planes delayed by 'de-icer queue' | March snow: Manchester Airport planes delayed by 'de-icer queue' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Passengers at Manchester Airport have been stuck "for hours" inside planes waiting to take off due to a lack of de-icers, it has been claimed. | Passengers at Manchester Airport have been stuck "for hours" inside planes waiting to take off due to a lack of de-icers, it has been claimed. |
| People on board a number of flights said firms had not turned up to clear ice from their planes - forcing the aircraft to queue to be de-iced. | People on board a number of flights said firms had not turned up to clear ice from their planes - forcing the aircraft to queue to be de-iced. |
| Earlier, Manchester Airport reported "minor delays to departing aircraft". | Earlier, Manchester Airport reported "minor delays to departing aircraft". |
| It said de-icing was the responsibility of airlines and their ground teams but its staff "stepped in to assist". | |
| A Manchester Airport spokesperson said airport staff helped with the "organisation of de-icing, when it was clear a back log was forming and third parties needed assistance". | |
| "At no time today did the airport's infrastructure or services falter." | |
| 'Frayed tempers' | |
| A Flybe spokesperson said in "exceptional circumstances" like Friday's heavy snow "it is ultimately the airport that directs the priority in which the de-icing rigs should service the aircraft". | A Flybe spokesperson said in "exceptional circumstances" like Friday's heavy snow "it is ultimately the airport that directs the priority in which the de-icing rigs should service the aircraft". |
| "Airlines can advise their preferences but have no control over any final decision that in such an instance is wholly directed by the airport." | "Airlines can advise their preferences but have no control over any final decision that in such an instance is wholly directed by the airport." |
| Liz Shimmin, who is due to fly to the Isle of Man with her three-year-old child, said they boarded their Flybe plane at 08:30 GMT but were still waiting after they had been told that they were second in the queue for the de-icer. | Liz Shimmin, who is due to fly to the Isle of Man with her three-year-old child, said they boarded their Flybe plane at 08:30 GMT but were still waiting after they had been told that they were second in the queue for the de-icer. |
| She said information had been "inconsistent" and passengers were feeling cold as the doors were being kept open. | She said information had been "inconsistent" and passengers were feeling cold as the doors were being kept open. |
| Shirley Hale, who is on a Jet2 flight bound for Tenerife, said tempers were "beginning to fray" as passengers waited for information. | Shirley Hale, who is on a Jet2 flight bound for Tenerife, said tempers were "beginning to fray" as passengers waited for information. |
| Jet2 has yet to respond. | Jet2 has yet to respond. |
| BBC North West Tonight presenter Carol Lowe, who was due to fly with Easyjet to Switzerland, said she had been sitting for more than three hours in a plane that was waiting to be de-iced. | BBC North West Tonight presenter Carol Lowe, who was due to fly with Easyjet to Switzerland, said she had been sitting for more than three hours in a plane that was waiting to be de-iced. |
| "We were due to leave for Geneva at 10:50 but didn't board until midday - at that point we were told the aircraft was number 30 in a queue to be de-iced. | "We were due to leave for Geneva at 10:50 but didn't board until midday - at that point we were told the aircraft was number 30 in a queue to be de-iced. |
| "No sign of that happening yet. The pilot and crew have been fantastic and have been handing out snacks. For now it's a case of sitting tight until it stops snowing." | "No sign of that happening yet. The pilot and crew have been fantastic and have been handing out snacks. For now it's a case of sitting tight until it stops snowing." |
| An Easyjet spokesman confirmed nine flights to and from Manchester Airport had been cancelled and one flight had been diverted to Liverpool. | An Easyjet spokesman confirmed nine flights to and from Manchester Airport had been cancelled and one flight had been diverted to Liverpool. |
| "While the circumstances are outside of the airline's control, easyJet apologises for any inconvenience caused," he said. | "While the circumstances are outside of the airline's control, easyJet apologises for any inconvenience caused," he said. |
| "We are continuing to review the situation and would like to reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption." | "We are continuing to review the situation and would like to reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption." |
| The airport said it was "fully open for flights" but advised passengers to check the status of their flights with their airline. | The airport said it was "fully open for flights" but advised passengers to check the status of their flights with their airline. |