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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Jim Hardy & Milo Boyd

easyJet refused compensation due to 'snow on the runway' - during a heatwave

EasyJet passengers are saying the airline refused to pay them compensation for a flight delay due to 'snow' - despite the mercury being at 23C and the flight departing in the middle of August.

Passengers were stunned when the budget airline told them that the flight from Jersey airport in the Channel Islands was running late because frosty flakes had to be cleared from the runway.

When passengers looked outside, they couldn't spot a single patch of snow.

This came as little surprise to any of the travellers as they were flying on August 15, during the middle of the heatwave.

Their astonishment has turned to anger now that the airline has admitted it made a mistake but said that they won't get any compensation.

Have you got a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The weather in Jersey on the day of the departure was good (Met office)

In the middle of August the Channel Islands were in their second period of 'absolute drought' this year, with residents being urged to conserve water following a prolonged spell with no measurable rainfall.

Following the flight easyJet emailed passengers to say: "To further explain what happened on the day, Jersey had to close its runway for snow clearance, resulting in flights holding overhead for extended periods or having to divert to alternative airports.

"Long delays built up during the day. Some flights had to be cancelled, others experienced delays."

The hour-long, 161 miles flight from Jersey to Gatwick that day was in fact delayed due to low cloud and fog.

The plane should have taken off from Jersey at 8.45am but was delayed until 12.12pm

An easyJet spokesperson said passengers were given the wrong information due to 'human error', but refused the compensation request as the delay was due to 'poor weather'

The spokesperson for the company said: "easyJet can confirm the flight EZY5104 from Jersey to London Gatwick on 15 August was delayed due to poor weather conditions and fog.

"We are sorry passengers received incorrect information regarding the precise weather conditions which caused the delay.

"Our operations control centre manually logs the reason for the delay in our system and so this was as a result of human error.

"Nevertheless it remains the case that compensation is not due as the delay was as a result of the weather.

"We always pay compensation when it is due."

Bemused travellers took to social media after the tardy flight to question easyJet's explanation, saying other flights in and out of Jersey Airport that day had not been disrupted.

While the weather was slightly cooler than the previous day, Jersey Met still recorded temperatures of 22.8 degrees Celsius.

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