Thomas Cook: Stranded British passengers turned away because planes are too small

Repatriation chaos continues

Stranded Thomas Cook customers have been left angry and frustrated after planes sent to return them to the UK were too small.

Dozens of British holidaymakers at Skiathos airport in Greece were turned away after planes that were sent to return them to Bristol, London and Manchester did not have enough seats to accommodate all passengers.

Unhappy customers were left uncertain about how and when they would return to the UK, after checking out of their hotels.

Mark Walker and his wife were originally due to fly to Bristol airport at 1.45pm on Wednesday, but were “kept in the dark over the repatriation flights”.

The couple, from Barnstaple in Devon, then received a message at 4am on Wednesday stating that they were expected to fly home at 12.45pm that day.

“We took a taxi from Skiathos Town to the airport, arriving at 10am, and joined the check-in queue,” he told The Independent.

“At 11.30am, we reached the desk to be told that we were not on the list and we were not flying today.

“Our original flight was on a plane that could accommodate 220 passengers but the flight home was on a plane that could only accommodate 180 passengers.

“So, 40 passengers could not fly and myself and my wife were in this group,” he said.

The couple then sought guidance from the British Consulate, who advised them to seek accommodation and await a new flight.

The pair eventually caught a flight to Manchester Airport on Thursday which was only half-full and got a taxi to Bristol.

Helen Chapman, from Salcombe in Devon, was also due to fly back to Bristol airport on Wednesday, but was unable to do so after the plane was not large enough to fly them home.

Ms Chapman was due to return to work on Thursday, but has had to take two days of unpaid leave due to the repatriation delays.

“It’s absolute panic going on here,” she told Mirror Online.

”People are tired, miserable and upset. People are very nervous, they are quite stressed.

“People today are just hoping they get home.

”Some haven’t had a phone call to reassure them when they get to the airport today they will have a spot on the plane,” she said.

Ms Chapman added that coaches sent to transport holidaymakers from their hotels to the airports didn’t have enough seats, leaving around 150 passengers behind.

“The CAA and Embassy staff at the airport have been awful with organisation and communication,” she said, adding that the Thomas Cook representatives were “fantastic”.

Thursday marks the fourth day of Operation Matterhorn, the giant effort to repatriate 150,000 Britons to the UK after the collapse of package holiday firm Thomas Cook.