Travellers were “passing out” after flight delays left them waiting for hours at Gatwick airport on Saturday, it has been claimed.
Some passengers complained they were left feeling “unwell” and “unbearably hot” in Gatwick terminals as the UK remains in the grip of a sweltering heatwave.
Among the chaos, one passenger claimed people were passing out while waiting in the “boiling” terminals over the weekend.
“Dear @easyJet anyone seen the Gran Canaria cabin crew?! We’re waiting in a BOILING @Gatwick_Airport people are passing out, please hurry up. Many thanks,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Others added: “@Gatwick_Airport pleeeease get some aircon on at the gates, gate 52 is unbearably hot and we’re stuck here.”
“@Gatwick_Airport please can you turn the air-con on at gate 53 north terminal. Been sat here for 40 long minutes and feeling very unwell.”
“Dear @Gatwick_Airport we have now been sitting on the runway for 1.5 hours. Why haven’t you updated @easyJet on an ETA to move the plane off the tarmac. I understand you have staff shortages but after air con-gate earlier in the terminal the passengers on this flight are furious!”
“@Gatwick_Airport spent five hours so far on our plane on the tarmac on our way to Innsbruck. Fabulous pilot and crew really helped.”
The Standard approached Gatwick airport and easyJet representatives for further comment.
A spokesperson for easyJet said: “EasyJet experienced some disruption to its Gatwick flying programme Saturday due to a combination of issues impacting the operation, including ground handling and airport coaching delays due to airport staff shortages which resulted in the delayed departure of some flights.
”While this is outside of our control we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience experienced.”
Saturday marked the beginning of the heatwave in the UK as Heathrow Airport and Kew Gardens, in west London, recorded the highest temperature of 29.1C.
Temperatures could reach a record-breaking 41C early next week with the heatwave expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday.
Holidaymakers have faced chaos at UK airports in recent weeks with delays, long queues and cancellations due to staff shortages.
It comes amid a spike in demand for overseas travel after two years of the Covid pandemic hindering the travel industry and grounding flights.
