Ryanair strands holidaymakers on 'wrong' Canary Island

Package holidaymakers today complained they had been "stranded" on the "wrong" Canary island after their low-fare airline flight was diverted due to bad weather.

Travellers said they had had to make their own arrangements to reach their destination when their Ryanair flight to Lanzarote had to put down in Fuerteventura.

One family had to pay £400 for overnight accommodation and a ferry crossing to Lanzarote the next day.

The flight had left Bournemouth for Lanzarote on Wednesday but had to divert because of a thunderstorm.

Kay Wright, 40, was with her sons Jack, six, George, five, three-year-old daughter Kacey and stepdaughter Tabatha, 23.

She claimed they were given no further assistance from Ryanair and she was forced to ring partner Tony Wainwright at home in Bournemouth to help her reach their destination.

Mr Wainwright, a 48-year-old security consultant, told the Daily Mail website: "I got a phone call at about 6pm to say they had landed but were on the wrong island.

"After disembarking they had gone into the terminal but there were no Ryanair representatives to tell them what to do next. It was left to me and a very helpful Spanish lady to sort out a taxi, arrange alternative accommodation for the night and book ferry crossings to Lanzarote in the morning.

"I don't blame Ryanair for the bad weather but to abandon a family on the wrong island is unforgivable."

A Ryanair spokeswoman said today: "Ryanair flight FR 6766 Bournemouth-Lanzarote diverted to Fuerteventura due to bad weather in Lanzarote. Unfortunately ferries were also affected by these high winds and passengers were provided with EU261 (a European passengers'-rights' regulation) information which outlines their entitlement to provide receipted hotel expenses to Ryanair, for refund.

"Ryanair arranged that the ferry company would carry affected Ryanair passengers to Lanzarote free of charge when ferries recommenced the following morning. Ryanair apologises to passengers for any inconvenience caused by this weather-related diversion but can never put passenger convenience before passenger safety."