Excessive snow forces friends to cancel ski trip for first time in 30 years

A group of friends were unable to hit the pistes for the first time in 30 years after snowfall caused their flights to be cancelled.

Mike Chapman, 65, was due to fly out from Bristol Airport at 12.15pm on Wednesday with five others, but after waiting for hours, the group was informed that their easyjet flight was cancelled.

With no other flights today or tomorrow, the group decided to abandon their holiday plans, meaning they would miss their £6,000 ski holiday to Austria for first time in 30 years.

Mike Chapman, a fire safety manager, from Bristol said: "It's unacceptable - they don't seem to care. It has been a waste of money. We are absolutely devastated."

He claimed the group was "given no apology" for the cancellations, describing the event as a "massive inconvenience".

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The scene at Bristol airport after flights were cancelled due to snow (Mike Chilman / SWNS)

He added: "We have been skiing for 30 years and nobody had ever had to abort a trip - shows the incompetence of the airport."

Mike was looking forward to a five-day ski trip with friends at Zell Am Ziller, Austria.

The group paid £6,000 in total for the trip and are confident they will get a refund.

Mike claimed: "The airport have known about the threat of snow for a week and they have done nothing about it.

The snow led to a lot of delays and cancellations (Mike Chapman / SWNS)

The pals were unable to ski (Mike Chapman / SWNS)

"The airport is incredibly busy some, they didn't open the runway until after 11am. It is total nonsense, unacceptable and pathetic.

"Flights from 6am and 7am are all backed up - there is a huge back log.

"Lots of people are sitting around on the floor or standing around- there wasn't enough preparation."

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: "Bristol Airport reopened this morning at 10.30am after a temporary closure (Wednesday 8 March) for snow clearing operations.

"Additional staff are on-site to assist with the adverse weather response.

"It is a rapidly changing situation and passengers are advised to check with their airline prior to making their way to the airport, as some airlines have made proactive cancellations to their flight programme for the remainder the day.

"Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time for the journey to the airport."

easyJet was also contacted for comment.