Ryanair ditched over 40 passengers in Budapest: is it the slow airport’s fault? – UPDATE: Ryanair’s reaction

Ryanair left more than 40 of its passengers high and dry at Budapest Airport – but was it really the airport’s blunder?

According to a statement from Budapest Airport, on 15 December, far more flights than usual were departing for non-Schengen destinations at that time, causing massive queues at passport control. Some flights simply didn’t hang around for latecomers. But the 40+ stranded passengers weren’t fuming about the queues – they were livid that the boarding gate stayed shut even though the plane was still parked right there.

Passport chaos left punters stranded

The U.S. Sun reports that the Irish budget airline Ryanair abandoned over 40 passengers at Budapest Airport on Monday, 15 December. Budapest Airport explained that they had a surge of flights heading outside the Schengen zone. Despite staff and police pulling out all the stops, some punters missed their flights because not every airline waited for everyone. Those left behind can rebook via the airlines, who’ll sort the details. The airport issued an apology but offered no compensation for the misery.

Ryanair chipped in with their own statement, admitting some passengers missed the Tirana flight. They insisted, though, that if folks had arrived at the gate on time, there’d have been no drama – just like the 137 who did board without a hitch.

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Ryanair passengers tell a different story

Not so fast, say the furious flyers. Those quoted by the paper claim there was no final boarding call. When they finally cleared passport control and dashed to the gate, the plane was still sitting on the apron. Why not fling open the gate and let them on? One check-in staffer told the shouting crowd they hated the situation too but were powerless to help.

One passenger who posted a video of the chaos on social media said check-in staff handed out zero official paperwork explaining the boarding denial. She’s vowing to chase Ryanair hard over this.

They had 20 minutes left – but still got dumped

She added they’d queued for passport control for over an hour with no last call whatsoever. After being barred from boarding, it took another 30 minutes to reclaim their checked luggage.

The flight was due to take off at 14:20. They reached the gate at 14:00 – yet the plane flew without them.

UPDATE: Ryanair’s reaction

The Irish low-cost carrier has said the following about the unfortunate situation:

Due to passport control delays at Budapest Airport (15 Dec), a number of passengers missed this flight from Budapest to Tirana. Should these passengers have presented at the boarding gate desk before it closed, they would have boarded this flight alongside the 137 passengers who did present at the gate on time.

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