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Passengers sleeping at the airport in Aruba after their BA flight was cancelled last minute (Loop News)
Antiguans and Barbudans were among the passengers stranded overnight at Aruba’s airport following the cancellation of British Airways flight BA 2156 to Antigua and London.
Reports from Loop News indicate that many travelers were left without accommodation. What began as a 90-minute delay escalated into several updates throughout the evening, ultimately resulting in the flight’s cancellation at 12:20 AM.
Passengers were required to disembark and retrieve their luggage without immediate support from the airline.
“This is unacceptable; I can’t believe they did nothing to help us,” one passenger expressed frustration as they observed airline staff leaving the airport for their arranged transportation and accommodations.
The situation was particularly difficult for those whose phone plans were expiring that day, rendering them unable to make calls. With limited hotel options available, some passengers had no alternative but to sleep on the airport floor.
The Caribbean travelers faced uncomfortably cold conditions as strong winds swept through the area, compounding an already challenging situation.
It wasn’t until 2 AM that British Airways communicated with affected passengers via email, stating: “We sincerely apologize for the unprecedented and extended delay onboard today. This was due to a technical issue identified with the aircraft prior to departure, which our engineers were unable to resolve in time to operate the flight. Safety is our highest priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it is safe to do so.”
The airline’s email assured passengers that their customer relations team would reach out within 48 hours and mentioned that connecting flights would be automatically rebooked for those affected.
While the airline’s website suggests that passengers can apply for reimbursement, many remain uncertain about the timeline or likelihood of receiving compensation.
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