Many residents on the Isle of Man will be aware of the ongoing problem with flight cancellations at the airport. There are different reasons given on different days of the week for the ongoing cancellations and overnight delays, but having been affected myself, it is my belief that the current treatment of passengers when things go wrong is unfair and unacceptable. Put another way action is needed immediately. 

Our flight on May 8th 1915 hrs from Gatwick to the Isle of Man appeared quite full. The plane took off, flew to the island, the pilot mentioned fog and stated that the airport was essentially closed for air traffic. 45 minutes later and we were back on the ground in Gatwick. EasyJet staff were nowhere to be seen. One word described the situation 'abandoned'!! We were handed a leaflet by a gentleman that told us and the other hundred odd "sort out on the app"! Obviously there were many elderly and not so able people that cannot "sort out on the app". My Wife and I were there with two young exhausted children. 

For the purpose of this petition I will only say that getting another flight home the next day or two was impossible and getting a hotel last minute was extremely difficult and in no way was assisted by EasyJet for most if any passengers. I managed to get a hotel through the app but only by accepting a flight to the island on Saturday 13th May 2023. 

The purpose of this petition is twofold. The signees of this petition (prayer) request that Government urgently speak with EasyJet management to ensure Isie of Man residents are treated in a decent and humane manner once cancellations and delays occur. Once again we were simply abandoned in Gatwick. There was NO assistance there from anyone.

Many passengers do not have access to an app at all, let alone in the UK.  Assistance should be given by airline ground staff to assist passengers to find a hotel for the night immediately. All I can say is that I hope everyone on that flight found somewhere comfortable to sleep. It was a horrible experience. 

What is also clear that for many passengers, including myself, the only option is to look at returning by 'Steampacket'. Last minute tickets can be very expensive, plus there is the added cost of last minute travel to Liverpool or Heysham by train, coach, car hire etc. In my case I think that the last minute plans we put in place have cost me in excess of £400, so I guess most passengers affected on this flight will also be currently out of pocket to a figure close to that amount. 

The Isle of Man Steampacket company  is owned by the people of the Isle of Man.  The signees believe that a special concessionary fare, possibly free, should be made available for Steam Packet passengers that can prove they are affected by flight cancellations. 

Personally I had no idea how bad the treatment of passengers could be by (EASYJET) in this instance, but politically ignoring the situation is something that cannot happen any longer. Trust me when I say it was horrible. 

Please consider signing this petition (prayer) to Government today. I will forward it to the Right Honourable Chris Thomas MHK (DOI MINISTER) as soon as a satisfactory number of signatures is forthcoming.