Ryanair flight cancellations: Black Country couple 'stranded' in Spain hit out at airline
A couple from the Black Country have been left 'stranded' in Spain after their Ryanair flight back to Birmingham was cancelled.
Rebecca Brown and her partner Nathan Poole, from Willenhall, are among 400,000 passengers whose flights have been scrapped by the budget airline.
Many of the cancellations are a result of a backlog of staff leave which has seen large numbers of Ryanair staff – including pilots – book holiday at the end of the year.
Have you been affected by the cancellations? Call 01902 319410 or email newsdesk@expressandstar.co.uk
Miss Brown, 27, and 31-year-old Mr Poole flew to Madrid on Wednesday for business and were due to fly home last night, but their return trip was cancelled.
They were told they could either get a refund or book on the next alternative flight.
They tried to book a replacement flight but this was also cancelled.
Now the couple are due to fly home with EasyJet tonight, but will arrive in Liverpool and then have to travel down to Birmingham where their car is parked.
The delay has also hit them in the pocket, with Miss Brown claiming they have spent an extra £400 or £500 during the extended stay.
Miss Brown, a pub chain area manager, said: "It's been really frustrating. You hear people being stranded and think it doesn't really happen [to you].
"We have had to fork out of our own pocket a huge chunk of money, about £400 or £500, for hotels, food, drink and the flights.
"My partner's missed days off work...I've had to contact my work and try to extend my holiday days, which means I've had to cancel a lot of meetings."
Ryanair confirmed on Saturday it plans to cancel 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks.
Miss Brown said she will 'never' fly with the budget airline again.
She said: "I'd never trust them because I'd be fearful it would happen again.
"There was no real communication, no help, no support. It's the not knowing that was frustrating." Ryanair has published a full list of the flights which have been cancelled online.
