Almost fifty flights (arrivals and departures) from Madeira Airport were cancelled yesterday due to strong winds, while several others were diverted. This was the case of a Ryanair flight between Porto and Funchal, which headed to Porto Santo after a failed approach to Madeira.
It was in the early hours of this morning that the plane landed in Porto Santo, and it is here, said one disgruntled passenger, that the airline lost interest in its passengers.
“They didn’t give us any food, and the only water we could get was from the bathroom,” says Pedro Cruz to JM. “There were children and elderly people on board, but they simply didn’t want to know,” he lamented, adding that the little information provided was haphazard and insufficient for the needs of the passengers.
According to the passenger, who was travelling to Madeira with his young daughter, the company sent a message indicating that it had not been able to find hotel accommodation, so passengers were asked to try and find a place to stay overnight, and told to keep their receipts so they could request a refund at a later date.
In the middle of high season and with hotels and accommodation full, the family ended up spending the night on the floor of Porto Santo Airport, on mattresses provided by the employees.
“The airport staff was fantastic, they got us mattresses, blankets, pillows, and we were able to rest on the floor. The PSP agents were also fantastic; they arranged water, directed taxis for some people with children who needed to leave.
They were the only ones who supported us.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
