A video has surfaced online of furious Emirates passengers confronting staff after their flight was delayed thrice in 24 hours.
The EK421 Perth to Dubai Emirates flight was originally meant to take off at 10:20 p.m. on Oct. 28 — but after reportedly spending four-and-a-half hours on the tarmac, passengers were told to disembark on account of a technical issue.
The flight was then rescheduled to Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., nonetheless passengers were told it was going to be pushed back a 3rd time to the pre-scheduled 10:20 p.m. flight time.
And in one other shock twist, they were told there was a catering issue after food from the 6 p.m. flight had spoiled.
Many insisted they didn’t care and just desired to get on the flight but Emirates reportedly insisted it was company policy that they may not board if the flight was not catered.
The flight was then pushed back again – with passengers rebooked to fly out on Monday and Tuesday night.
“Emirates flight EK421 from Perth to Dubai on October 28 was cancelled on account of a technical fault,” an Emirates spokesperson told news.com.au.
“Affected customers were rebooked on the following available flights.”
Footage shows furious passengers berating airport staff following the incident.
“Someone needs to offer us answers as to why?” one customer demands.
“You realize how much we now have paid for this? Hundreds and 1000’s of dollars,” one other said, adding, “It will not be fair.”
One staffer could possibly be seen attempting to calm the furious passengers, explaining the airline is working on checking out a latest flight.
“They’ll organize and book those within the morning,” the worker said.
“Will we definitely get on a flight tomorrow?” the person asks.
“I would like to be honest with you and say ‘yes you might be’ but when the identical thing happens, let’s just say the aircraft broke again you’ll come to me and say ‘you promised me’,” the staffer replies.
The staff response didn’t go down well with one passenger responding: “How will you keep doing it to the identical passengers?”
“Emirates have a great name and everybody is saying Emirates have never had an issue like this. Why the identical passengers for 3 flights?”
“I totally understand your frustration and anger,” the staff member responds.
“Dubai (Emirates headquarters) have said they are usually not going to send people without food and water.”
Meanwhile, one passenger, Danish tourist Camilla Von Benzon Hollesen, claimed that after the initial cancellation she waited in line on the Emirates terminal only to be told there have been no more hotel beds and that she could sleep on the airport floor.
She told The West it was only after she complained that she was offered a room and a taxi to the Parmelia Hilton.
“We’re aware of the difficult situation on the bottom, which was compounded by a shortage of hotels and ground transport to accommodate our affected customers,” an Emirates spokesperson told news.com.au.
“It is a rare and regrettable situation, but Emirates won’t ever compromise on the protection of our passengers and crew.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. Our Customer Affairs team is making contact with customers affected by the cancellation.”