Not enough paper to get them rolling

A BRITISH Airways plane destined to take holidaymakers to the Caribbean sat on the tarmac at Gatwick for more than five hours as there was a shortage of loo roll.

Passengers on BA Flight 2153 to Barbados were delayed because their aircraft had not been prepared satisfactorily, forcing the airline to assemble a new ground crew to restock such things as toilet paper and headphones.

The Boeing 777, which can carry 280 passengers, was due to leave the London airport at 1.40pm last Sunday but did not depart until 6.51pm.

It arrived at Bridgetown just before midnight, five and a half hours later than scheduled.

Under European legislation on flight delays, each of the travellers is entitled to compensation of £520 (about R8 300), meaning the carrier could be left with a bill for up to £145 600.

The delayed outbound flight meant that the return service also left nearly six hours late, taking potential compensation to £291 200.

A spokesperson for BA said: “We are sorry customers were delayed after some of the many items needed for the flight weren’t loaded onto the aircraft.” — © The Daily Telegraph, London