Passengers let rip over CY delay

By Jean Christou

A GROUP of Cypriot passengers were back on the island yesterday after enduring a five-hour delay in Athens on Monday night, where “all hell broke loose”.

Reports yesterday said the 240 passengers had been due to fly from Athens to Larnaca on Cyprus Airways’ Monday 8.45pm flight when they were notified of a two-hour delay. However, at 11pm they were informed that the aircraft’s landing gear needed repairing and that it would take another four hours. Another plane with the parts needed would be flown from Cyprus, they were told.

The disgruntled passengers were taken to a hotel in Athens for a meal but were informed that there was only enough food for half of them.

“Then all hell broke loose,” according to the reports, with passengers starting to shout and swear at CY staff. A short time later, the passengers were given the choice of staying at the hotel and catching a flight home on Tuesday or waiting up to be flown home at 4am, or or on Olympic Airways’ 1am flight to Larnaca. However the OA flight had room for only 50 people, which reportedly caused another fracas amongst passengers racing to be first.

Further reports said that of the 50 who managed to board the Olympic flight, the baggage belonging to 25 failed to arrive on the same flight.

CY sources said yesterday the behaviour of the passengers had been “unbelievable”.

“If this had happened when they were travelling British Airways, they would not have dared to say a word, but when it comes to Cyprus Airways they act unruly,” the source said.

“They caused a lot of trouble and it cost us close to £10,000 to send the plane with the spare parts so we could get them home quickly. Most other airlines would have let them wait until the next day. We spend thousands trying to satisfy our passengers.”