Manchester Airport, the third-busiest in Britain, faced a major power cut on Sunday, resulting in the cancellation of over 100 flights. The cancellations affected thousands of passengers, with at least 20 percent of all outgoing and incoming flights being grounded. The airport spokesperson warned of further disruptions as they worked to resolve the issue.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that easyJet experienced the largest number of cancellations, with 66 departures and 50 inbound flights called off. Manchester Airports Group, responsible for Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports, explained that the power cut in the area caused problems with airport security and baggage systems. Passengers at two of the three terminals were advised to stay away until operations resumed.
Despite the challenges faced earlier in the day, flights at Manchester Airport resumed in the afternoon. Chris Woodroofe, the airport managing director, assured passengers on social media that operations would return to normal on Monday. However, Jet2 airline reported that they had to cancel several flights and could not load bags onto planes due to the inoperable baggage system.
Travel Industry Struggles
Issues at Manchester Airport are not isolated incidents in the UK travel industry. Recent years have seen a series of technical and strike disruptions affecting both rail and air passengers. Last month, a nationwide outage of immigration e-gates caused significant delays for travelers. In August last year, the UK faced its worst air traffic control disruption in years due to a technical fault.
Passenger Frustrations
Passengers at Manchester Airport described the situation as chaotic, with long queues for security and delayed baggage collection. Some incoming flights were diverted to other airports, adding to the confusion. Reports on social media platforms highlighted the frustrations of travelers stranded on planes or waiting for hours to retrieve their luggage, painting a grim picture of the travel experience that day.
The chaos at Manchester Airport serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities of the travel industry to unforeseen events. While the resumption of flights offers some relief, the impact of the power cut will be felt for days to come. Authorities must address the underlying issues to prevent similar disruptions in the future and ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers.
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