A female traveler in a wheelchair bound for Bristol encountered a setback when she missed her Ryanair flight due to purported negligence by the special assistance personnel at a bustling Spanish airport. The incident occurred on May 12 at Terminal 1 of Lanzarote Airport, where she was inadvertently left in the accessible passenger lounge and had to spend the night on the Canary Island before catching her rescheduled flight the next day.

While waiting to be escorted to the boarding gate, the woman’s initial flight departed without her, causing her inconvenience. The mishap has been attributed to the demanding workload faced by subcontractors working for Spain’s state-owned airport manager, Aena, with the assistance service being handled by a company named Mitie.

Aena has initiated an investigation into the incident, with airport authorities stating they will take appropriate actions as per the existing contract and service standards. The traveler’s nationality remains undisclosed, although reports suggest she is of British origin. Details regarding whether she was traveling alone or accompanied by others were not immediately available.

This incident echoes a similar occurrence in March last year at Lanzarote Airport, where two elderly passengers requiring special assistance were left behind, causing them to miss their easyJet flight to Liverpool. Witnesses described the distress experienced by the pair at that time. The incident was linked to significant shortcomings in the management of the assistance service, with employees citing strenuous working conditions characterized by long hours, staff shortages, and constant pressure.

The Mirror has reached out to Aena and Mitie for their comments on the matter.