Holidaymakers fear they will never get back expenses from air traffic mayhem

THOUSANDS of stricken families fear they will never be refunded for emergency costs after being stranded by the UK air traffic control failure.

- Giles Sheldrick

Many of those stuck far from home have had to fork out for food, accommodation and alternative travel due to the global chaos.

Figures suggest almost 2,000 flights were cancelled due to the glitch that crippled Britain's National Air Traffic Services on Monday.

Some 500,000 passengers were affected by the chaos, many of whom are still stranded abroad waiting for flights home and running low on money and, in some cases, medicine.

Families whose flights have been cancelled or delayed have been forced to sleep on airport floors or in makeshift beds. Many scrambled to rebook flights or make alternative plans to get home.

Weary passengers have also told how they have been left out of pocket and stonewalled by airport staff and carriers as they seek answers.

Severe delays and cancellations are expected to continue all week despite the IT meltdown being fixed within a few hours. Rory Boland, of consumer champion Which?, fears some airlines are not fulfilling legal obligations and responsibilities to look after those who are marooned.

He said: "We're seeing worrying reports of passengers being left stranded without support and airlines failing to properly communicate with passengers or fulfil legal obligations such as offering timely rerouting overnight or accommodation. Travellers should be their aware airline has a responsibility to reroute them as soon as possible, even if that means buying them a ticket with a rival a rule some carrier airlines appear to be ignoring."