Chaos-stricken airline had just one plane to operate

THE airline at the centre of a chaotic weekend at Cork and Shannon airports had just one aircraft to service its entire operation, it emerged yesterday.

Shannon-based Eirjet admitted yesterday there had been a delay in the delivery of two extra Airbus A320 aircraft.

This delivery delay, fog at Cork Airport at the weekend, the night time closures of airports in Lanzarote, Reus and Zakynthos, and radar problems in Greece combined to throw the airline’s weekend schedule into chaos.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Cork Airport for up to 24 hours on Sunday.

Delays were also experienced with Eirjet-operated flights out of Cork last Thursday and the previous weekend.

Eirjet said yesterday it hoped to take delivery of a second Airbus A320 tomorrow and a third Airbus soon.

Falcon Holidays, which contracted Eirjet to operate its flights from Shannon and Cork, moved yesterday to reassure passengers.

The company said it was “putting together a number of contingencies to offset potential scenarios and avoid other potential delays”.

“Notwithstanding the above, operational issues are always subject to external factors such as weather conditions and other problems which are outside the control of any airline,” a statement from the company said.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) also responded yesterday to formal complaints made by Cork TD Noel O’Flynn about Eirjet’s Cork operations.

The IAA said Eirjet is fully compliant with all standards and criteria.

A CAR statement said Eirjet meets all its requirements including financial fitness, insurance cover, ownership and control requirements.

Passengers have a right under new EU regulations, which came into effect on February 17, to pursue airlines for compensation in the case of delays.

However, there is no obligation on airlines to pay compensation where cancellation is due to “extraordinary circumstances” like adverse weather conditions or industrial action.

The first point of contact for the passenger should be the airline concerned, CAR told Mr O’Flynn.

“Only after an airline has failed to meet its obligation to pay compensation or provide assistance should a complaint be submitted to the Commission for Aviation Regulation,” a statement said.