Manchester Airport, the third-busiest in Britain, faced a major setback on Sunday as over 100 flights were cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers. This accounted for at least 20 percent of all outgoing and incoming flights. The disruptions were a result of a significant power cut that impacted airport operations.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that easyJet experienced the largest number of cancellations, with 66 departures and 50 inbound flights being affected. Passengers faced challenges due to problems with airport security and baggage systems. Jet2, another airline, had to cancel dozens of flights and was unable to load bags onto planes.
Fortunately, flights at Manchester Airport resumed in the afternoon following the power cut. Chris Woodroofe, the airport managing director, expressed hope that operations would be back to normal by Monday. However, easyJet warned of long queues for security and restricted passengers to cabin bags only.
Passenger Frustrations and Disruptions in Travel Industry
The chaotic situation at Manchester Airport led to frustrations among passengers, with some describing the experience as a “chaos.” This incident adds to a series of technical and strike disruptions that have plagued the UK travel industry in recent years, affecting both rail and air passengers. Last month, a nationwide immigration e-gate outage caused long delays, while a technical fault in air traffic control disrupted services in August last year.
The power cut at Manchester Airport highlighted the vulnerability of the aviation industry to external factors. The disruptions caused inconvenience and frustration for passengers, underscoring the need for robust contingency plans and measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Airlines and airport authorities must work together to ensure the smooth operation of flights and minimize the impact on travelers.
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