Blue Islands' customers left with 'no choice' but to sleep overnight in Guernsey Airport after storm

Passengers faced a night sleeping on the terminal floor on airbeds supplied by Guernsey's emergency action Civil Protection group. Credit: Tina Caldeira

Some Blue Islands' passengers were left to sleep on the terminal floor at Guernsey Airport on Saturday night (7 September) after their flight was cancelled due to bad weather.

The 8:25pm SI4432 service was called off at 9:30pm following heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning.

A total of 19 passengers were affected and nine ended up sleeping at the airport as they could not find anywhere to stay at short notice.

Tina Caldeira from Jersey and Nikolas Appleman from The Netherlands were among those who found themselves without accommodation for the night.

They say if it was not for the kind nature of airport staff and volunteers from the emergency action Civil Protection group, they would not have even been given a sleeping bag or water.

Tina explains: "It's appalling and I think we all felt it was appalling, there was no contact from them [Blue Islands].

"I don't know if they even really knew they had passengers left behind who had nowhere to go and that's just not acceptable. We could have been unable to help ourselves in any way. Each of us spent a lot of money buying those flights and we really deserve to be looked after."

Nikolas adds: "I didn't get any message from Blue Islands, no email, so I was informed by my fellow passengers."

Tina Caldeira was one of the nine people who had to sleep at the Airport after her flight was cancelled. Credit: ITV Channel

The airport café opened earlier than usual on Sunday morning so that passengers could have hot drinks and food.

Some of those affected told ITV News that they returned by ferry at their own expense on Sunday as the next available flight was not until Monday, claiming Blue Islands still had not contacted them about the disruption.

In a statement, the airline explain: "Hotels in Guernsey were full, our airport representatives explored other options with local authorities, however no alternative accommodation options were available.

"We thank Guernsey Airport for keeping the terminal open and providing provisions for passengers.

"Disruption is the last resort. However, safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is always our number one priority. While these circumstances were out of our control, we apologise for the inconvenience."

Passengers used what they could find or were given to create makeshift beds on the floor. Credit: Tina Caldeira

Guernsey Ports Chief Operating Officer Ross Coppolo says: "We will be working with the operator to help ensure in future that appropriate customer care is provided to passengers in the event of any late cancellations of scheduled services.

"The passengers from the cancelled inter-island flight to Jersey were understandably upset and some were unable to secure accommodation for the night at short notice.

"Our teams acted quickly to make sure these passengers were well looked after and had a safe place to rest overnight.

"A few members of our team had to stay at the airport overnight themselves, for safety reasons, and others did not return home until after midnight."

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