RYANAIR has also apologised after two of its flights were delayed by hours at Bournemouth Airport – but says delays were “entirely beyond” their control.

Passengers reported being “stuck” inside planes on the tarmac at Bournemouth Airport on Wednesday, July 20, for more than three hours after staff sickness in Air Traffic Control means no departures could take place from 2pm to 4pm.

Bournemouth Airport apologised for this but said unloading the delayed passengers into the terminal and then re-boarding them “would not have been practical in the timescales involved”.

Of particular note was Ryanair flight 5944 bound for Malaga which was delayed by around four hours.

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “This flight from Bournemouth to Malaga (20 July) was regrettably delayed due to Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff sickness at Bournemouth Airport, which was entirely beyond Ryanair’s control.

“We sincerely apologise to affected customers for the delay caused by these ATC staff absences at Bournemouth Airport, which are entirely beyond Ryanair’s control and impact all airlines operating to/from Bournemouth Airport.”