Latest news with #CésarManrique-LanzaroteAirport
South Wales Argus
23-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
TUI Cardiff flight bomb threat: passenger recalls tense ordeal
The incident unfolded on Thursday morning, June 19, when a threatening note was discovered in the aircraft's restroom. The flight, TOM6422, was en route over Portugal when a crew member found the note and alerted the pilot. The Spanish Civil Guard was immediately informed and called to assist. Fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane safely as it diverted to César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by bomb disposal experts from Spain's GEDEX (Explosives Deactivation Group) and other specialised units. The Guardia Civil's Fiscal and Border Section, alongside investigation teams and security patrols, secured the area to thoroughly investigate the threat. TUI flight from Cardiff escorted by fighter jets after bomb threat note found onboard (Image: Ryan Jones) A spokesperson from Cardiff Airport said: 'We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6422 from Cardiff to Lanzarote on 19/06/25. The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. No concerns or suspicious activity were raised prior to departure.' Passengers on the flight described the tense moments onboard. Ryan Jones recalled how flight attendants searched the plane and the pilot's sudden announcement of an emergency landing, followed by the sight of fighter jets escorting them. ' We took off from Cardiff, I don't know, it was all going great, and then all of a sudden you could see the stewardesses looking in the compartments and everything else'. 'They were looking more and more and more, but then, like, and suddenly the pilot, you know, he didn't say exactly what was happening, but he said, oh, we've got to make an emergency landing in Faro, and it was like, oh, Christ, what have happened?' Ryan recalled the tense moment as fighter jets appeared: 'And then I could see these jets following us, no one was sure what was happening, so people were asking a lot of questions, and 20 minutes after we landed". TUI flight from Cardiff escorted by fighter jets after bomb threat note found onboard (Image: Ryan Jones) "They were looking through our baggage, because the plane had been closed all night, but everyone on the plane was great'. 'I should have been scared, when I think about it now, the stewardesses and the pilot, everyone did a great job keeping us calm. They were so calm', praising the crew's professionalism and calm demeanour throughout the ordeal. He added, 'We didn't know exactly what was happening until after we landed. I guess that was fair, everyone would have been panicking if they had known.' Passengers underwent additional security checks after landing. Ryan said, 'We had dogs sniffing us and asking about our belongings after we landed. Later, we found out that someone had left a note in the toilet.' It was later confirmed that nothing suspicious was found and the bomb threat was a false alarm. Currently, passengers like Ryan and Victoria Jones, who travelled from Wales, are enjoying their vacation in Lanzarote and hoping for a safer, less eventful flight home.
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Daily Record
Canary Island holidaymakers warned they face 'unacceptable' chaos on arrival at airport
Tourists have been warned of lengthy delays when they land. When you land at your destination on holiday, the aim is getting through customs and collecting your bags as swiftly as you can so your break can finally begin. But tourists landing at one Canary Island airport have been warned they face an 'uncomfortable and chaotic' experience. Passengers to Lanzarote Airport, the third busiest airport on the Canaries by volume of passengers, has been marred by slow baggage collection, lengthy taxi queues and insufficient police on duty. The island's president has now demanded action. President Oswaldo Betancort has asked for an urgent meeting with the Spanish airport authority, AENA, to address the issues causing lengthy delays at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport. Betancort said there are insufficient police on duty at the airport, which is the tenth busiest in the country by volume of passengers with nearly 800,000 in March alone. The airport has been the subject of numerous complaints in recent years, both for the time it takes to get luggage and then to go through passport controls. Tourists say this takes about an hour and is followed by another lengthy wait for a taxi. Queues often snake around the concourse as passengers with their suitcases wait for more taxis to arrive, reports the Mirror. One holidaymaker recently back in the UK after a break in Lanzarote said: "We were very shocked at the taxi situation at the airport. It took us about an hour to get through passports and to collect our luggage, so we were looking forward to getting to our hotel. "However, we were shocked to find a really massive queue at the taxi rank which literally snaked around the concourse. We had absolutely no choice but to join that queue, which must have been at least 300 people. "It took us 55 minutes in total to get a taxi, which did nothing for our mood or Lanzarote's reputation! "When we asked a taxi driver what the problem was, he said there were not enough taxis to cope with the number of arrivals. The time, we must point out, was 7.30pm, so probably not even the busiest time of the day." Local residents agree there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. The authorities say creating a digitalised service is the way ahead, which is why it is opening a round of talks with the taxi association. Of the lack of police officers at the airport, Mr Betancort said:" It is unacceptable that residents and visitors have to endure long waits due to insufficient staff at security checkpoints. More human and material resources are needed to guarantee efficient operation." There are currently plans to expand the airport, to improve operational efficiency and quality of service. According to the Airport's Master Plan, the objective is to expand and remodel Terminal 1 to improve quality, also expanding the check-in, boarding and security control areas. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Likewise, terminals 1 and 2 will also be connected in the boarding area, once the security control has been passed. The Mirror's Victoria Chessum recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and experienced some of the chaos. "She wrote: "I visited Lanzarote out of peak-season, and therefore ignorantly expected the airport to at least be manageable in terms of queues. While checking-in was super easy, along with bag-drop, navigating the small and disproportionate terminal building was not. "Armed with a sleepy toddler, a pram, and a few hand luggage bags, the whole experience quickly escalated into something of a nightmare."
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Canary Island airport hell as Brits land and face chaos before they even get to the hotel
British tourists arriving at Lanzarote airport face an "uncomfortable and chaotic experience" amidst calls for urgent action. The island's own president, Oswaldo Betancort, made the admission and is now demanding a top-level meeting with the Spanish airport authority, AENA, following a period of turbulence at the travel hub. He says there are insufficient police on duty at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, which is the tenth in the country by volume of passengers and the third in the Canary Islands, with nearly 800,000 passengers in March alone. The airport has been the subject of numerous complaints in recent years, both for the time it takes to get luggage and then to go through passport controls. Tourists say this takes about an hour and is followed by another lengthy wait for a taxi. Queues often snake around the concourse as passengers with their suitcases wait for more taxis to arrive. One holidaymaker recently back in the UK after a break in Lanzarote said: "We were very shocked at the taxi situation at the airport. It took us about an hour to get through passports and to collect our luggage, so we were looking forward to getting to our hotel. "However, we were shocked to find a really massive queue at the taxi rank which literally snaked around the concourse. We had absolutely no choice but to join that queue, which must have been at least 300 people. It took us 55 minutes in total to get a taxi, which did nothing for our mood or Lanzarote's reputation! When we asked a taxi driver what the problem was, he said there were not enough taxis to cope with the number of arrivals. The time, we must point out, was 7.30pm, so probably not even the busiest time of the day." Local residents agree there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. The authorities say creating a digitalised service is the way ahead, which is why it is opening a round of talks with the taxi association. Of the lack of police officers at the airport, Mr Betancort said:" It is unacceptable that residents and visitors have to endure long waits due to insufficient staff at security checkpoints. More human and material resources are needed to guarantee efficient operation." There are currently plans to expand the airport, to improve operational efficiency and quality of service. According to the Airport's Master Plan, the objective is to expand and remodel Terminal 1 to improve quality, also expanding the check-in, boarding and security control areas. Likewise, terminals 1 and 2 will also be connected in the boarding area, once the security control has been passed. The Mirror's Victoria Lissaman recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and experienced some of the chaos. She wrote: "I visited Lanzarote out of peak-season, and therefore ignorantly expected the airport to at least be manageable in terms of queues. While checking-in was super easy, along with bag-drop, navigating the small and disproportionate terminal building was not. Armed with a sleepy toddler, a pram, and a few hand luggage bags, the whole experience quickly escalated into something of a nightmare."
