Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
Jan 4th 2007, 10:49 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070104_%2BRabbit%2Bcauses%2Bdelay
Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
Thu 04/01/07 - Some 260 Belgian holidaymakers have been stuck for 2
days at Brussels airport, waiting for a holiday that is never to take
place. The delay wasn't caused by heavy fog or some terrorist plot. The
culprit was an innocent rabbit, sucked up into the engine of a plane
that was due to depart for Brussels.The 260 Belgians had booked a
holiday to Cuba or Mexico.
When on Tuesday morning they wanted to check in at Brussels
International Airport, they were told that their plane had been held up
in the Dominican Republic because of technical difficulties.
According to Hans Vanhaelemeesch of tour operator Jetair, a member of
the TUI group, the delay was due to a rabbit that was tangled up in the
plane's engine. The unfortunate animal was spotted when the pilot made
his final round before departing for Brussels.
"The pilot noticed one of the engines had been damaged by so-called
bird strike. Only, the bird wasn't actually a bird but a rabbit."
"The damage to the plane isn't all that big and the engine is still
working but still we don't want to take any risk. "
"That's why we decided to send out a plane with spare parts."
The passengers were subsequently given a room at the Sheraton hotel at
the airport, where they spent the next 2 days 'camping' in anticipation
of their eventual departure.
Flight cancelled altogether
However, on Thursday morning it turned out that this wasn't going to
happen. The passengers were told their flight had been cancelled
indefinitely.
It appeared that the plane carrying the spare parts now had been
delayed too.
Tour operator Jetair decided to cancel the flight and to refund the
unfortunate holidaymakers.
Although they are sure to receive an extra compensation of 250 euros as
well as a complete refund, the passengers were highly disgruntled at
the lack of communication by Jetair.
The disappointed holidaymakers said they had been left completely in
the dark on what was going to happen next.
Ironically, the dinner the unfortunate holidaymakers were served on
Wednesday evening consisted of rabbit. Many failed to see the humour of
this and repeated they would never again travel with Jetair.
Jetair spokesman Vanhaelemeesch said the tour operator had been left
with no other option and said that because of the busy Christmas
holidays there were simply no other planes available.
Flemish Travel Agents are furious
The tour operator's decision also met with a lot of criticism of the
Flemish Organisation of Travel Agents. They claim Jetair should have
put more money and effort into the search of finding another plane.
The Organisation of Travel Agents is considering to file a complaint
with Toerisme Vlaanderen, the government body that attributed licences
to travel organisations.
The whole affair is also a patch of bad luck for Jetair. Next to the
bad publicity and the 260 holidays they will now have to refund, they
are also left with the hotel bill from the Sheraton which is estimated
at some �60,000.
Undoubtedly, the most fortunate victims of the delay are to be found
abroad. Some 200 odd Belgian tourists that were due to return home last
Tuesday are still stuck in their Cuban and Mexican holiday resorts.
In anticipation of a plane to take them home, they are now enjoying a
free holiday extension.
Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
Thu 04/01/07 - Some 260 Belgian holidaymakers have been stuck for 2
days at Brussels airport, waiting for a holiday that is never to take
place. The delay wasn't caused by heavy fog or some terrorist plot. The
culprit was an innocent rabbit, sucked up into the engine of a plane
that was due to depart for Brussels.The 260 Belgians had booked a
holiday to Cuba or Mexico.
When on Tuesday morning they wanted to check in at Brussels
International Airport, they were told that their plane had been held up
in the Dominican Republic because of technical difficulties.
According to Hans Vanhaelemeesch of tour operator Jetair, a member of
the TUI group, the delay was due to a rabbit that was tangled up in the
plane's engine. The unfortunate animal was spotted when the pilot made
his final round before departing for Brussels.
"The pilot noticed one of the engines had been damaged by so-called
bird strike. Only, the bird wasn't actually a bird but a rabbit."
"The damage to the plane isn't all that big and the engine is still
working but still we don't want to take any risk. "
"That's why we decided to send out a plane with spare parts."
The passengers were subsequently given a room at the Sheraton hotel at
the airport, where they spent the next 2 days 'camping' in anticipation
of their eventual departure.
Flight cancelled altogether
However, on Thursday morning it turned out that this wasn't going to
happen. The passengers were told their flight had been cancelled
indefinitely.
It appeared that the plane carrying the spare parts now had been
delayed too.
Tour operator Jetair decided to cancel the flight and to refund the
unfortunate holidaymakers.
Although they are sure to receive an extra compensation of 250 euros as
well as a complete refund, the passengers were highly disgruntled at
the lack of communication by Jetair.
The disappointed holidaymakers said they had been left completely in
the dark on what was going to happen next.
Ironically, the dinner the unfortunate holidaymakers were served on
Wednesday evening consisted of rabbit. Many failed to see the humour of
this and repeated they would never again travel with Jetair.
Jetair spokesman Vanhaelemeesch said the tour operator had been left
with no other option and said that because of the busy Christmas
holidays there were simply no other planes available.
Flemish Travel Agents are furious
The tour operator's decision also met with a lot of criticism of the
Flemish Organisation of Travel Agents. They claim Jetair should have
put more money and effort into the search of finding another plane.
The Organisation of Travel Agents is considering to file a complaint
with Toerisme Vlaanderen, the government body that attributed licences
to travel organisations.
The whole affair is also a patch of bad luck for Jetair. Next to the
bad publicity and the 260 holidays they will now have to refund, they
are also left with the hotel bill from the Sheraton which is estimated
at some �60,000.
Undoubtedly, the most fortunate victims of the delay are to be found
abroad. Some 200 odd Belgian tourists that were due to return home last
Tuesday are still stuck in their Cuban and Mexican holiday resorts.
In anticipation of a plane to take them home, they are now enjoying a
free holiday extension.
Jan 4th 2007, 10:59 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
oops forgot rec.travel.air
Jan 5th 2007, 3:16 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
On 5 Jan 2007 03:49:20 -0800, "Bob Slay" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070104_%2BRabbit%2Bcauses%2Bdelay
>
>Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
>
>Thu 04/01/07 - Some 260 Belgian holidaymakers have been stuck for 2
>days at Brussels airport, waiting for a holiday that is never to take
>place. The delay wasn't caused by heavy fog or some terrorist plot. The
>culprit was an innocent rabbit, sucked up into the engine of a plane
>that was due to depart for Brussels.The 260 Belgians had booked a
>holiday to Cuba or Mexico.
[snip]
>The whole affair is also a patch of bad luck for Jetair. Next to the
>bad publicity and the 260 holidays they will now have to refund, they
>are also left with the hotel bill from the Sheraton which is estimated
>at some ?60,000.
A fair number of holiday travellers who were flying Paris <->
Falconara (Italy, the airport nearest me) were stranded at either end
of the trip when a flight was cancelled. It seems no reason was ever
offered for the cancellation.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
wrote:
>http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070104_%2BRabbit%2Bcauses%2Bdelay
>
>Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
>
>Thu 04/01/07 - Some 260 Belgian holidaymakers have been stuck for 2
>days at Brussels airport, waiting for a holiday that is never to take
>place. The delay wasn't caused by heavy fog or some terrorist plot. The
>culprit was an innocent rabbit, sucked up into the engine of a plane
>that was due to depart for Brussels.The 260 Belgians had booked a
>holiday to Cuba or Mexico.
[snip]
>The whole affair is also a patch of bad luck for Jetair. Next to the
>bad publicity and the 260 holidays they will now have to refund, they
>are also left with the hotel bill from the Sheraton which is estimated
>at some ?60,000.
A fair number of holiday travellers who were flying Paris <->
Falconara (Italy, the airport nearest me) were stranded at either end
of the trip when a flight was cancelled. It seems no reason was ever
offered for the cancellation.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Jan 5th 2007, 3:49 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:16:30 +0100, B Vaughan<[email protected]> wrote:
>A fair number of holiday travellers who were flying Paris <->
>Falconara (Italy, the airport nearest me) were stranded at either end
>of the trip when a flight was cancelled. It seems no reason was ever
>offered for the cancellation.
That used to be quite common with both KLM and Air Inter. It might still be with
KLM.
--
Martin
>A fair number of holiday travellers who were flying Paris <->
>Falconara (Italy, the airport nearest me) were stranded at either end
>of the trip when a flight was cancelled. It seems no reason was ever
>offered for the cancellation.
That used to be quite common with both KLM and Air Inter. It might still be with
KLM.
--
Martin
Jan 7th 2007, 9:21 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Rabbit ruins 260 Belgians' holiday
I'm italian and I was one of the 260 'sfortunate' traveller.
I can assure you it was a nightmare. and now I want something more than
the entire reimbursement of the flight, my holyday were cancelled!
I can assure you it was a nightmare. and now I want something more than
the entire reimbursement of the flight, my holyday were cancelled!
