Almost 150 passengers stranded in airport due to heavy snow 'exhausted but relieved' to arrive home

28/12/2014. Pictured passengers embrace after arriving into Dublin airport from Chambery, France where they were stranded after a ski trip. Photo: El Keegan

Brian Byrne

ALMOST 150 passengers who were stranded in a French airport for up to 30 hours due to unprecedented weather conditions were “exhausted but relieved” to arrive at Dublin Airport tonight.

The 147 passengers were due to fly out of Chambery Airport in France yesterday but heavy snow which blighted much of the country this weekend kept them grounded.

Many of the passengers complained that they were given little information about their prospect of returning home by Crystal Ski, which organised the trip. They also complained that they were only given snacks such as muffins and crisps to eat.

Orla O’ Riordan (22) from Blessington in Co Wicklow, who went skiing with her sister Siuin (20), explained: “We arrived at the airport on Saturday at 1pm and we left 30 hours later. We ended up sleeping in the airport, because there was emergency accommodation but it was some sort of auditorium.

“There were one or two really old people sleeping on solid chairs for the night. There were also people in wheelchairs, with broken arms and broken legs. There was one girl with two broken arms, and she actually ended up in hospital. It was just bleak.”

Meanwhile, Cathy Caslin (19), from Booterstown in Dublin, who spent Christmas on the slopes with her neighbour Joseph O’Donnell (16), said “we’re wrecked and hungry”.

“We’re exhausted. It’s great have landed, but we were up at 5am two days ago and haven’t really slept since. We kept being told different information, and it was all really vague. But it feels good to be home.”

A spokesperson from Crystal Ski said: “The Crystal team have been working overnight with the airlines, airport and local authorities to arrange flights home”.