The Tui plane was supposed to leave for Stockholm at lunchtime – but has not yet taken off. Now 200 passengers are stranded in Sicily overnight.
– Tui has been bad at giving us any kind of info, says pregnant Veronica Berqvist, who has been to Italy on her honeymoon.
The reason for the flight chaos is technical problems, according to TUI.
Oscar Kåretun, 20, and his family were supposed to fly home to Sweden from Catania-Fontanarossa airport at 12 noon local time, but that didn't happen.
After waiting ten hours for a replacement flight, they are now some of the 200 travelers who must wait overnight for the next flight.
– There has been no one from Tui's staff here that you could talk to during the day and it takes away a whole day of your vacation, says Oscar Kåretun.
First, the passengers were told that the plane was four hours late. When they were allowed to go out to the plane, they were told to turn back.
Then comes another announcement, this time that a replacement flight will depart at 11 p.m. local time, but that announcement too has to be backed down.
Heavily pregnant Veronica had to stand in 35-degree heat
Veronica Bergqvist is seven months pregnant and was forced to stand outside in the 35-degree heat while waiting for the first transfer bus.
"It was terrible. We stood there for 40 minutes and it was really boiling hot," she says.
Veronica and her husband David got married a week ago and have traveled to Sicily on honeymoon.
– The trip has been fantastic but it didn't end very well. Tui have been bad at giving us any kind of information, says Veronica.
Can check into a hotel overnight
Tui's latest announcement is that the flight is postponed until Tuesday, as the replacement crew who arrived from Belgrade will not be able to fly tonight due to rest time regulations.
– It is of course super annoying and we are working hard to resolve it. All travelers will be able to check into hotels and the flight will take place tomorrow, says Adam Györki, Nordic Communications Manager for Tui.
Adam Györki believes the reason for the different messages is due to problems finding a replacement flight.
At midnight, David and Veronica were still waiting in line to find out which hotel they would be assigned to.
– It will probably be at least another 40 minutes before we arrive, says Veronica.
Source: Expressen.se
