2 days ago
Passengers frustrated after Jet2 flight to Bournemouth diverted
PASSENGERS returning from a holiday in Türkiye were left "exhausted" when a flight diversion saw them having to travel for hours by coach to get home.
A Jet 2 airways flight from Antalya to Bournemouth landed at East Midlands Airport in the early hours of Sunday, June 1, with travellers then waiting to travel to Bournemouth in a coach service.
Passenger Fiona Western said she chose to fly to and from Bournemouth Airport for its convenience, but her return flight from Antalya was an exhausting experience.
The flight was forced to divert to in the early hours of Sunday because of runway closure at Bournemouth Airport.
(Image: Passengers at East Midlands Airport, Submitted)
Fiona said: 'We were delayed getting on the plane and we were informed at mid-flight that we are looking like we won't be getting into Bournemouth on time and they're working hard to negotiate with airport to let us land.'
Fiona, who was flying with her 16-year-old daughter and her daughter's friend, said her experience with Jet2 was 'not pleasant' and described scenes of exhausted families with little children when coach stopped for a driver's break.
She said: 'This is dreadful, isn't it? You shouldn't sell a holiday that's flying into a regional airport if it shuts in the morning and there's no flexibility.'
She believes Jet2 needs to take greater responsibility for timing issues.
She said: 'The flights from Bournemouth are leaving later and later. Our outbound flight was delayed by about an hour, and the week before, the same thing happened.
'The people on that flight also missed the return landing. If Bournemouth has this problem, then Jet2 needs to make sure those Turkey flights leave on time.'
A spokesperson from said: 'Flight LS3608 from Antalya to Bournemouth Airport diverted to East Midlands Airport in the early hours of Sunday morning due to a mandatory runway closure at Bournemouth Airport, which was of course completely beyond our control.
"Our teams worked hard to look after customers, including providing coach transportation to Bournemouth Airport, however we are of course sorry for any inconvenience caused that was caused.'
