**Hundreds of British Holidaymakers Stranded in Majorca as Weather Disrupts Flights**
Hundreds of UK tourists have found themselves marooned at Palma airport in Majorca, after severe weather across northern Europe led to widespread flight cancellations and delays. Families returning from half-term breaks have reported being forced to find last-minute accommodation and alternative travel arrangements, as airlines scrambled to respond to what has been described as an “unprecedented” situation.
The vast disruption appears to have followed a bout of thunderstorms and turbulent conditions affecting much of northern Europe. Due to the adverse weather, air traffic control authorities placed significant restrictions on flight movements, putting immense pressure on carriers like easyJet, who bore the brunt of Sunday’s cancellations.
Many passengers were notified about cancelled flights just minutes before they were due to board. Among those affected was Beth Rafferty, 31, from Hastings, travelling back from Majorca with her partner Lewis Chapman and their two children, aged eight and ten. Originally scheduled on a 7pm easyJet flight to London Gatwick, the family received an abrupt email informing them that their plane would not depart due to “air traffic control restrictions”.
While initial reports suggested problems were linked to technical or staffing issues within air traffic control, both the airline and airport sources confirmed the primary cause was the knock-on effects of hazardous weather in northern Europe. EasyJet described the circumstances as being “outside of [the airline’s] control”, a position consistent with EU compensation guidelines governing extraordinary events.
The human impact of these disruptions has been starkly apparent at Palma airport, with hundreds of Britons—including numerous young families—filling the terminal while awaiting news or searching for alternative flights. Passengers described scenes of confusion and frustration as information trickled through. Although more than 120 flights experienced substantial delays, it is understood that fewer than 10 flights were outright cancelled during the worst of the disruption.
For Ms Rafferty and her family, the uncertainty meant scrambling to secure both emergency accommodation and fresh flights at considerable expense. “We’ve managed to get a flight to Bournemouth—but not to our original destination,” she explained. “A lot of people have ended up having to take flights to Belfast or Liverpool instead of London. We’ve been relatively lucky, but it’s still been an expensive and stressful experience.”
In total, the family paid around £1,500 for new Jet2 flights, with an additional £300 needed for a hotel room. Like many stranded holidaymakers, Beth was concerned about the impact on her children’s schooling, noting the family’s determination to ensure their children missed as little as possible. “I rang the school to explain the situation—it doesn’t look like we’ll get fined for their absence, thank goodness.”
The issue of airline compensation has also surfaced as a point of contention. Many affected passengers, having spent significant sums to secure flights home, have learned they are ineligible for reimbursement under current regulations due to the incident’s classification as an “extraordinary circumstance”. However, easyJet indicated it would reimburse passengers for accommodation and meals where required.
In a statement, an easyJet spokesperson expressed regret for the disruption, saying: “Unfortunately, due to the impact of widespread thunderstorms across Northern Europe yesterday, some flights were unable to operate as planned. We did all we could to minimise the impact on our customers—providing options to rebook, refund their flights and cover hotel and meal costs where necessary. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always our highest priority and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.”
This travel chaos comes in the wake of a warning from Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, who recently voiced concerns about “shoddy” air traffic control services, suggesting that further delays were likely during the busy summer tourist season.
As air travellers increasingly contend with the unpredictability of European weather and growing airspace congestion, industry observers warn that such incidents may become more common. For now, hundreds of frustrated families will be hoping for a swift, safe return home—and some much-needed clarity for the journeys ahead.