Teesside Airshow: Ryanair Majorca passengers had to walk along A67

Passengers travelling to and from the airport were caught up as thousands of drivers made their way to the Teesside Airshow.

It is understood a number of passengers missed their flight to Palma in Majorca after struggling to get through in time, despite leaving more than three hours before.

Read more: Teesside Airshow: Chaos on A67 and A66 as drivers wait ‘three hours’

And one woman, Claire Richardson, who had flown in from Majorca, was left walking for miles after family members could not get anywhere nearby.

Ryanair at Teesside Airport Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT (Image: PA)

The Ryanair passenger, whose flight had landed at 11.30am and was walking along the A67 at 1pm, said she had been forced to locate her family within the queue.

She said: "The road is just gridlocked everywhere, no traffic can get through, there's no taxi's and nothing is getting through to the airport.

Read more: Teesside Airshow: Can you spot yourself in the crowds?

"My family is picking me up and they're in this queue somewhere so I am just walking until I find them."

Ms Richardson added that she believed more could have been done to prevent the scenes, suggesting the offer of public transport would have been a good alternative

Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

At around 1pm, dozens of passengers dragging suitcases away from the airport could be seen, visibly frustrated as they were forced to matters into their own hands.

On social media, furious Teesside Airport passengers said the Airshow had "cost many of us" to miss flights their flights.

Read more: Teesside Airshow: Ben Houchen says sorry as families stuck in huge queues

In recent days, the airport has urged customers via social media to arrive more than three hours before their departure time.

But according to Kevan Smith, who was due to fly today, he received no prior warning and only discovered the airshow when joining gridlocked traffic.

Apology given

On Saturday evening, an apology was issued to those caught up in the disruption caused by the Teesside Airshow and said a full review would take place.

The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Teesside Airshow has been a victim of its own success and, while it’s been great to see more than 20,000 people wanting to visit the show, it’s a huge shame that many people have had their days spoiled by long queues. 

“I am so sorry that delays and traffic have impacted not just those going to our airshow, but also local people trying to get around.

“I will be speaking to the organisers and conducting a full review and debrief as a matter of urgency early next week.

"I will also be liaising with the organisers to do whatever I can to get refunds for those who suffered major delays or who were unable to attend as a result of the delays. At this time, I can only apologise again for any disappointment people rightly feel.”

Drivers, some of whom had travelled from hundreds of miles away, said they had been left "furious and disappointed" after paying upwards of £50 per family to see the show.

One driver, who was stuck in gridlocked traffic on the A67 near Teesside Airport Railway Station, said: "We've been queuing since the morning. We'll be lucky to get in before it closes."

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