Aurigny comms criticised after delays in Manchester
AURIGNY’S communication has been criticised, after Manchester passengers faced a day of delays due to weather disruption.
The airline managed to complete nearly all of its UK schedule on Sunday, despite strong winds from Storm Ashley causing air disruption in the UK.
The last flight in – the 8.55pm from Exeter – managed to make it to the island at 11.30pm on Sunday, just before the airport shut.
But Manchester passengers were not so lucky.
They boarded the 7.20pm flight in Manchester just before 10pm.
But with the flight normally taking between 75 to 90 minutes, the travellers knew that, given time on the runway at Manchester and in the air, they were unlikely to make it in time.
They were kept aboard the plane until 10.30pm, when they were told it was cancelled.
An email confirming passengers would need to make their own hotel arrangements was not received until just before 2am.
James Marshall, 38, was one of the passengers on the flight, returning from a cycling trip in the UK.
He said the biggest issue was the lack of communication and updates, and felt the airline had been 'trying to pass the buck'.
He noted that information he had received was largely apologies for delays, rather than details about what was happening.
‘The communication has been frequent via email, but with very little detailed information,’ he said.
‘The aircraft is run by Swift Air rather than Aurigny and there are no Aurigny ground staff here, only Menzies, and they are not providing any updates.
'We managed to reach Aurigny customer services, but they were not able to provide any information and blamed Menzies for the issue.’
On Sunday night he had immediately gone to book a hotel as soon as the flight was cancelled, rather than waiting for Aurigny’s confirmation email. That was fortunate, as a number of Ireland flights were also cancelled and airport hotels were soon full.
Mr Marshall said the flight was full and he did not believe any passengers had been transferred onto Monday morning’s flight from Manchester, which arrived on time at 10.30am. Instead they were transferred onto a replacement flight, which was due to leave at 11.30am.
However, passengers were sent emails repeatedly delaying that flight.
The plane finally departed Manchester just after 2.30pm and took 75 minutes to land in Guernsey.
Aurigny has been approached for comment.
n Irish flights were particularly hard hit by Storm Ashley, and the 11.25am flight to Dublin on Sunday and its return flight were both cancelled.
