Passengers booked on a flight from Dublin airport to Warsaw which was cancelled yesterday were facing an anxious wait last night to see if they will be able to make it home in time for Christmas, write John Downes and Ruadhán Mac Cormaic
As Poles traditionally mark Christmas with a family celebration on Christmas Eve, many of those who spoke to The Irish Times yesterday expressed the fear that, even if an alternative flight is found for them today, they will miss a major part of their festivities.
Others were concerned that, at the height of the holiday season,they would be unable to secure a seat on an alternative flight until Monday or Tuesday of next week.
The original group of 55 passengers were booked on a LOT Polish airlines flight out of Dublin at 1.40pm yesterday, but were informed shortly before their departure time that their aircraft had not left Warsaw due to severe fog.
There were tense scenes at the airport yesterday afternoon as staff and security sought to reassure the passengers. The group has been provided with hotel accommodation.
The flight company was not available for comment. But when contacted, an agent for its Irish reservations call centre said that in such a situation, passengers would be rebooked on the next available flight, or provided with accommodation until this became available.
There were reports last night that some had been accommodated on alternative flights and that further places might be found for other passengers this morning. A spokesman for the airline's handling agent, Servisair, said he was not aware of plans to put on an extra flight for the main group of passengers.
One of the group, Monica Gomula, from Krakow, said she had secured a place on an early flight to London today. But since it would not leave London for Warsaw until this evening, she would miss much of her family's celebrations.
Also stranded in Dublin were 11 Filipino crew members of a cargo vessel moored in Dublin port. After days of dispute they will celebrate Christmas Day aboard after their employer agreed last night to pay their wages in time for Christmas.