Spain holiday chaos as hundreds of brits stranded after flights grounded

MANY HOLIDAYMAKERS WERE UNABLE TO GET HOME FROM HALF TERM TRIPS 15:37, 03 Jun 2025 Scores of British holidaymakers find themselves stranded at Palma de Mallorca Airport following a spate of

flight cancellations due to "air traffic control restrictions". Numerous British families are left unable to return from their half-term breaks on the sought-after Balearic isle,

with easyJet and other carriers unable to operate due to adverse weather conditions across Europe. The circumstances described as "outside [of the airline's] control". The

cancellations come days after Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, voiced his grievances over "shoddy air traffic control services", warning they could lead to

unprecedented delays this summer. British tourist Beth Rafferty reported that hundreds were stranded at the airport because of poor weather in northern Europe. The terminal was said to be

overflowing with passengers caught up in the chaos, many facing uncertainty amidst the hold-ups and abrupt cancellations. Beth Rafferty, a 31-year-old from Hastings, East Sussex, found

herself and her partner, Lewis Chapman, 26, in this predicament. They had planned to return to London Gatwick with their two children, aged eight and ten, on a Sunday evening flight. Article

continues below However, just as they were preparing to board, they received an email saying their 7pm easyJet flight had been cancelled due to air traffic control restrictions. These

restrictions were later explained to be a consequence of poor weather in northern Europe. Rafferty explained that although less than 10 flights were cancelled, the knock-on effect of over

120 delayed flights impacted countless individuals. _From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our __newsletter here_. Beth and her relatives were left

with no choice but to fork out £300 for a last-minute hotel. With no timely alternative via easyJet, they shelled out an additional £1,500 to secure Jet2 tickets, ensuring their children

could return home to Bournemouth without missing more school days. In response to the situation, an easyJet spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, due to the impact of widespread

thunderstorms across Northern Europe yesterday, some flights were unable to operate as planned." Article continues below They added: "We did all we could to minimise the impact of

the weather disruption on our customers, providing options to rebook or a refund their flights as well as providing hotel accommodation and meals for these who required them." "The

safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and while this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused."