In a statement this morning, the airport explained that a big power cut in the area has led to widespread disruption, causing many flights to be canceled or delayed. They also mentioned that some flights that do take off might not have all luggage aboard.
Inside the terminal buildings, long lines formed as passengers tried to check in for their flights that were supposed to depart. However, just after midday, it was announced that all flights were canceled until further notice. Rick and Susan Newby were among those affected; they arrived at 5am for their 7am easyJet flight to Lanzarote, checked in their luggage, and headed to the gate, only to discover their flight had been canceled.
They were able to book a Jet2 flight to Lanzarote later in the afternoon from terminal two. They patiently waited outside to check in again, but just before 1pm, they received an email saying that flight was also canceled.
Susan said, "We paid nearly £500 extra to get those flights today. They let me book them at 11:30 this morning. Oh my god, I can’t believe it.”
Rick added, “The whole airport is open, shops are open, lights are on, hot food is being served – it’s like, what power cut? What power outage? We just don’t get what’s happening.”
Inside the terminal, hundreds of people stood in line at the easyJet check-in desks, hoping to catch their scheduled flights later in the afternoon. However, many were informed they could only bring hand luggage because the baggage conveyor belts for checking in hold luggage were still malfunctioning.
Sharon Hudson, waiting for her flight to Egypt, asked, "How are we supposed to go on a two-week holiday with just hand luggage?"
Manchester airport, the third busiest in the UK, stated it was working hard to get passengers already at the airport onto flights as quickly as possible. Flights scheduled to arrive at Manchester were being redirected to other airports, the airport explained.
The airport advised passengers flying from terminal three to come in as usual unless their airline tells them otherwise, but warned of potential delays.
The local power issues affected not just Manchester airport but also nearby buildings. Travel expert Simon Calder described the airport as in chaos due to the power cut.
"Most passengers use terminals one and two, where thousands have been stranded since early morning with no flights departing," he explained on LBC. Calder mentioned the airport planned to instruct airlines to cancel many flights for several hours to try to recover operations later in the day.
"If you're heading to the airport, expect to be notified that your flight is canceled," he warned. Calder noted that an equal number of people flying into Manchester would also face being stranded.
"This disruption comes during peak travel season with heavy flight bookings. If a lot of flights are canceled, it could lead to significant delays, potentially leaving travelers waiting several days to reach their destinations," he added.
SOURCE: The Guardian