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Updated October 18, 2023 | Published October 16, 2023
Charter travelers experienced hours-long delays on the runway.
The reason: the aircraft required ideal conditions to complete its journey home.
“Because we can no longer fly over Russia or Ukraine, our route has become longer,” said a spokesperson for the tour operator.
A Ving charter plane, carrying passengers from Phuket, Thailand, to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, waited nearly four hours on the tarmac before finally departing Friday evening.
The delay, explained Ving’s communications manager Claes Pellvik, is a consequence of the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on flight paths.
“Since we can’t fly over either Russia or Ukraine, our route has become longer. This means we have to wait for perfect weather conditions and winds to make the entire journey with the fuel we have.”
Was it not possible to refuel further before departure?
“No, the plane was fully fueled. We have to do this to avoid having to make a stop and refuel along the way.”
“This resulted in an unusually long wait. We shouldn’t have allowed passengers onto the plane without letting them wait at the airport. That’s regrettable,” he continued.
What happens if the fuel is insufficient?
“Then we would have to land and refuel. That would be in Bulgaria. But that hasn’t happened, either this winter or last,” said Claes Pellvik.
