Holidaymakers going to Canary Islands left ‘gutted’ by let-down

Holidaymakers booked to fly to the Canary Islands this weekend have spoken of their disappointment after last-minute flight cancellations by operator Flylolo.

Three flights from Glasgow Airport to Tenerife and one to Lanzarote – with around 230 passengers booked on each – will no longer go ahead.

Flylolo said it had been unable to secure aircraft and apologised to customers affected.

Many had booked flights after travel plans with Thomas Cook fell through due to the firm’s collapse, only to be let down again.

Chris Mcdonald was due to fly to Tenerife yesterday with his partner and their three children.

The 36-year-old, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, told the Daily Record: “We’d been due to fly with Thomas Cook and paid £2,000 for the flights before they collapsed.

“I found Flylolo while searching for new flights on a flight scanner website and booked through them, paying an extra £1,700 and still not knowing if I’d get the original money back.

“I’ve paid £1,500 for a hotel but I’m self-employed so had to rearrange work around this holiday.”

He added: “I’m gutted for the kids. My oldest doesn’t understand and is asking why we can’t just get new flights. But I’m already £5,000 down and don’t know if or when I’ll be getting it back.”

Those affected by the cancellations include more than 40 members of a youth swimming team who were due to attend a training camp in La Santa, Lanzarote.

On Twitter Julie Keough wrote: “Really tough to wake up to this news today!

“2 years in planning and training for kids to qualify, cancelled once already due to Thomas Cook collapse, rebooked 40+ kids with Flylolo and now no planes out of Glasgow! Help?”

Flylolo chief executive Paul Dendle said on Thursday: “The issue was the aircraft we thought we had a firm contract on was withdrawn.”

He added: “All clients’ monies are fully protected and held in a CAA trust and refunds will take 10 working days.”