Border Control Delays Cause 100 easyJet Passengers to Miss Milan Flight
More than 100 easyJet passengers faced severe delays at Milan’s Linate Airport, ultimately missing their flight to Manchester. The issues stemmed from lengthy border control waits, with travelers experiencing queues lasting up to three hours.
Incident Details
On Sunday night, the 11 AM flight to Manchester departed without approximately 105 stranded passengers. Those affected reported being stuck in long lines at passport control while waiting to board their flight. Many expressed their frustration on social media, describing intense conditions in the airport due to heat.
Passenger Experiences
- Vicky Chapman, a 26-year-old from Wirral, was traveling with her young son and family. After reaching the airport on time, they encountered delays at border control.
- Chapman stated, “We got to the airport with more than enough time… but we were refused entry through passport control.” Despite being at their gate before 9:30 AM, they were marked as a “no show” for their flight.
- As the situation deteriorated, Chapman noted people around her experienced health issues due to the heat while waiting.
- Another passenger, Kiera, 17, from Oldham, claimed she faced food poisoning and described her distressing experience. After encountering the same long lines, they were informed that their flight had already departed.
Response from Airlines and Authorities
easyJet responded by stating they were unable to control the situation caused by lengthy passport control delays. The airline is providing support to the affected passengers but emphasized that the recent implementation of the European Entry/Exit System has contributed to these issues.
Compensation and Future Flights
- easyJet is offering free flight transfers for those who missed their flights, including the one to Manchester.
- Passengers now face additional costs for alternative travel arrangements, with Kiera indicating a £520 expense for new tickets to Gatwick rather than Manchester.
- easyJet urged border authorities to utilize available flexibilities to alleviate delays while the Entry/Exit System is implemented.
Passengers are now rescheduling their travel plans and preparing to navigate additional travel challenges resulting from these delays. The situation highlights ongoing issues with border processing as international travel continues to evolve.
