Edinburgh easyJet passengers were left furious on Tuesday after their flight was cancelled as they waited in the terminal.
Scores of people had headed to Edinburgh Airport on May 31 for the evening flight to Amsterdam, with most arriving early to allow time for bag drop off and security queues.
After arriving in departures, the flight was first delayed by an hour, and then another two, with passengers left to wait on the plane beginning boarding.
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However, at around 8.30pm, an easyJet announcement confirmed the flight would be cancelled, with all passengers told to leave the airport.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live about the "shambles", Austin, 27, said there had been no easyJet staff in the airport to direct them on what to do once the flight was cancelled.
He said: "I came into the airport and security took ages to get through, then the flight was delayed three hours and then it changed and the board said go on the easyJet app.
"Went on the app and it said cancelled, but there was no easyJet staff in the airport we just got told to leave and get our bags.
"We all went down to the baggage hall and there must have been 400 bags just lying there from the cancelled flights. I travel for work in Amsterdam and travel most weeks, but the next available flight they could put me on was Friday so that has a huge knock on effect.
"I'm lucky that I have a house here but what if you were here on holiday and there was no staff, you'd have nowhere to go and three days before you could get your next flight."
PHD student Joe Nockels, 24, had also been hoping to board the Amsterdam flight to meet his parents there for a holiday that had been delayed twice due to the pandemic.
However, with no alternative flight until Friday, Joe was forced to request a refund and scrap the entire trip.
He said: "It was only supposed to be an hour flight, which got pushed back to 8.30pm then again to 10pm all while we were in the terminal.
"They didn't just cancel it outright which was quite frustrating they just kicked the can down the road, which was a bit of a waste of an evening.
"My parents had driven to Amsterdam from Sheffield so they're still there and are able to have the holiday but I'm not able to go and join them. The next available flight was Friday and they drive home on Saturday."
A spokeswoman for easyJet blamed a problem with the plane and apologised to passengers.
She added: "We are very sorry that flight EZY6925 from Edinburgh to Amsterdam on 31 May was cancelled due to a technical issue and unfortunately no replacement aircraft was available to operate the flight.
"We provided customers with options to rebook or receive a full refund as well as hotel accommodation, along with information on how to arrange this online or via the app.
"Nonetheless, we fully understand the disruption this will have caused to their plans and we are very sorry for this. Our team will be reaching out to Austin to apologise for their experience and provide a full refund.”
You can find more information on what to do if your easyJet flight has been cancelled or if you are trying to request a refund on our explainer guide here.
