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Holiday flight departs after 38-hour delay | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A flight from Aberdeen to Faro in Portugal has finally taken off after been delayed for more than 38 hours. | |
Holidaymakers had been stranded at Aberdeen Airport since arriving on Thursday morning for what should have been an 06:00 flight. | |
The flight was delayed because of a technical issue with the aircraft, and did not depart until 20:43 on Friday evening. | |
There were also stranded passengers in Portugal waiting for the return flight. | |
Passengers had been put up in hotels overnight, and were given vouchers in order to buy refreshments. | |
The airline has refused to say how many passengers were affected in total, but apologised for the inconvenience the delay had caused. | |
'No information' | |
Speaking earlier on Friday, Susan Davidson told BBC Scotland that she and the other passengers had been taken off the aircraft shortly before it had been due to depart Aberdeen on Thursday morning. | |
She estimated that there were about 130 or more passengers, adding: "We were really given no information whatsoever and just left waiting in the airport. | |
"Finally I think it must have been about 14:15 yesterday we were told we would be put up in a hotel and just to await further information from the company." | "Finally I think it must have been about 14:15 yesterday we were told we would be put up in a hotel and just to await further information from the company." |
Mrs Davidson said passengers had been "pretty much kept in the dark" by the airline, with most of the information coming from the hotel she had been staying at. | Mrs Davidson said passengers had been "pretty much kept in the dark" by the airline, with most of the information coming from the hotel she had been staying at. |
She added: "The children are exhausted and desperate to get away. It has just been awful." | She added: "The children are exhausted and desperate to get away. It has just been awful." |
James Hepburn, who should also have been on the flight from Aberdeen on Thursday morning, described the delay as "horrific" and said he was "very, very angry". | |
In a statement, Thomson Airways apologised for the "inconvenience" caused to customers due to travel on flights FPO811 from Aberdeen to Faro and FPO812 from Faro to Aberdeen. | In a statement, Thomson Airways apologised for the "inconvenience" caused to customers due to travel on flights FPO811 from Aberdeen to Faro and FPO812 from Faro to Aberdeen. |
It added: "We provided affected customers with overnight accommodation and vouchers for refreshments. | It added: "We provided affected customers with overnight accommodation and vouchers for refreshments. |
"We will also be providing letters to customers with EU flight delay claim information in line with the Civil Aviation Authority's guidelines. | "We will also be providing letters to customers with EU flight delay claim information in line with the Civil Aviation Authority's guidelines. |
"We understand how frustrating a flight delay can be and are working hard to have these flights on the way as soon as possible. We would like to thank affected passengers for their patience and understanding." | "We understand how frustrating a flight delay can be and are working hard to have these flights on the way as soon as possible. We would like to thank affected passengers for their patience and understanding." |