Ireland West Airport Knock says it has sought an urgent meeting with Flyglobespan airline about difficulties with its transatlantic service, after 500 passengers were stranded at three airports over the past five days.
Arrangements were being made last night to repatriate passengers delayed at JFK airport, New York, since last Thursday, and to fly out 146 US-bound passengers who had been booked to leave Knock on Sunday. However, the majority of the 240 passengers grounded at JFK airport were en route home on other carriers, many travelling at their own expense.
"We're terribly disappointed that passengers had this experience," Ireland West Airport chief executive Liam Scollan said.
The problems began when lightning struck an aircraft landing at JFK last Thursday, and were compounded by the weekend's security alert at Glasgow airport. Knock airport provided hotel accommodation on Sunday night for 146 people who had been booked to fly out to New York earlier in the day, but who have still not got away.
The new transatlantic services between Liverpool, Knock and New York and Glasgow, Knock and Boston had experienced several technical difficulties before the weekend's catalogue of events, Mr Scollan said.
"We met with the airline last week to iron out some operational issues, and once we have this situation resolved we will be meeting again," he said.
The airline had several key issues to sort out, including providing sufficient back-up aircraft, and securing more suitable slot times at JFK New York, Mr Scollan said. "However, it did open up the transatlantic option for us, and we want to work with the company," he said.
Anger, tiredness and frustration were expressed yesterday by some of the passengers stranded at Knock, New York and Boston.
"It's been a pure nightmare," said Paul Walsh, brother of pop impresario Louis, who was delayed at JFK. "We were getting no information. We were virtually living in the airport. It was awful, the worst ever."
Mr Walsh switched with five family members to Delta Airlines and flew home to Shannon when the Flyglobespan Boeing 757 showed no signs of taking off from JFK. Mr Walsh, who has a flooring business in north America, said that about 70 others from Ireland and the Liverpool area had chosen the Delta option despite the cost.
Majella Considine, and her daughter, Amy, from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, also flew home via Shannon with Delta and said she never was as relieved to be back on Irish soil again. Some young people waiting for the return flight were practically destitute, she said.
On Saturday night everybody was asked to board and the plane taxied out on the runway. "It was the most deflating thing ever when the plane taxied back in again. The pilot said another technical difficulty had occurred and the flight was again cancelled."
Some passengers formed an action group to demand "a basic level of human rights" from ground handlers, according to Ms Considine. One male passenger became ill after the flight home on Saturday night was cancelled, and was taken to hospital.
Chris and Caroline Brannigan were caught in Mayo when Sunday's flight to New York was cancelled. Mr Brannigan was unenthusiastic about using Flyglobespan again.