Passengers of the Australian airline Jetstar are furious. On December 27, they wanted to leave Melbourne for a vacation on the Indonesian island of Bali. Flight time about five hours. But even before the start the first problems arose. A taste of what was to come.
The Boeing 787-8 took off at 11:14 p.m. with a five-hour delay, Yahoo News Australia reports. Finally we went to Bali. But before the plane could actually leave the country, the machine stalled again on the Australian coast. It was back to Melbourne.
Flight monitors on Facebook did not miss this abrupt change of course. They discussed the reasons for this curious maneuver. Is it the weather conditions in Indonesia or a technical defect? After landing in Melbourne, the airline clarified.
“We have exchanged the flight from Melbourne to Bali for a larger Boeing 787 to carry more customers during the holiday season,” said an airline spokesman. “Unfortunately, due to a communication error, the switch to a larger aircraft was not approved by the local regulator in Indonesia.” They were not allowed to land.
“Worst travel experience of my life”
The airline has now launched an investigation to understand how this communication error could have happened. The hundreds of passengers were rebooked on a later flight and otherwise compensated.
«While customers wait for their new flight, we provide them with hotel rooms and meal vouchers and cover the extra costs of transport to the airport. We also offer them a $200 travel voucher.”
The gifts can only minimally alleviate the anger of the passengers. On Twitter they opt for clear words. “Thank you Jetstar Airways for the worst travel experience of my life,” one passenger wrote. Another passenger wrote: “After our original flight was cancelled, the second flight was delayed and we returned to Melbourne just an hour before landing, that’s it.” [Boden-]Staff unresponsive and unhelpful. A really shocking service. Never again.” (abbot)