In an unfortunate incident at Tours Airport, a Ryanair flight bound for Marrakech departed without 24 passengers who were held up by unusually slow customs and security checks. Despite arriving at the airport two hours prior to the scheduled departure time, Maxime and his fellow travelers found themselves stranded as their flight took off at 12:57 PM, forty-two minutes behind schedule. The flight was set to leave at 12:15 PM, but lengthy boarding procedures ultimately cost them their seats.
Maxime described the experience as surreal, stating, "The customs and security process was interminable; we spent over an hour and a half in line." He recounted the moment when they realized that the pilot decided to leave without them, despite their luggage already being onboard. According to Maxime, the pilot was well within his rights to close the doors and take off a quarter of an hour before the scheduled time.
As a result, the group of 24 passengers found themselves unable to board the aircraft. They now face an uncertain future regarding reimbursement, as airport staff have only provided vague assurances. "They were attentive, but no solutions were offered. Some passengers received a certificate stating that we could not board the plane, but we were told to submit a claim with all travel expenses, and they would see what they could do. However, we have no guarantee of reimbursement at this point," Maxime lamented.
When contacted for comments, Louis Chaumony, the airport director, explained that an unexpected inspection by the police brigade contributed to the delays. Additionally, he mentioned the introduction of a new European measure known as the Entry and Exit System (ESS), which mandates customs checks for all passengers entering or leaving the Schengen Area, affecting flights like theirs to Marrakech. He assured that the airport would not leave passengers without support, stating, "The passengers have our contact details, and we will respond to their needs."
As reported by lavoixdunord.fr.
