The not-so luck of the Irish
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 2:47 pmUsers of budget airlines have complained in the past that they have found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere at a tiny airport and have to fork out for expensive taxi fare to get their holiday destination.
Today Ryanair managed to go one better by landing at Ballykelly airport rather than the City of Derry airport. According to a po-faced press release, the pilot was cleared by air traffic control in the City of Derry for visual approach but he mistook the nearby Ballykelly for the City of Derry.
A quick glance at the map and that error seems almost understandable - both towns are located on the southern side of Lough Foyle. But a bigger visual clue should have been that the Derry City is the capital of County Derry whereas Ballykelly is "really a village that has outgrown itself" according to goireland website.
Ryanair is at pains to say that this is the first time in over 20 years of Ryanair operated flights that such an error has occurred and a full investigation will be carried out. At least the passengers didn't have to pay for a taxi though: Ryanair laid on a coach to take them back to Derry City.
Today Ryanair managed to go one better by landing at Ballykelly airport rather than the City of Derry airport. According to a po-faced press release, the pilot was cleared by air traffic control in the City of Derry for visual approach but he mistook the nearby Ballykelly for the City of Derry.
A quick glance at the map and that error seems almost understandable - both towns are located on the southern side of Lough Foyle. But a bigger visual clue should have been that the Derry City is the capital of County Derry whereas Ballykelly is "really a village that has outgrown itself" according to goireland website.
Ryanair is at pains to say that this is the first time in over 20 years of Ryanair operated flights that such an error has occurred and a full investigation will be carried out. At least the passengers didn't have to pay for a taxi though: Ryanair laid on a coach to take them back to Derry City.
....Oh and if your from Oz well don't worry, It's just a Pommy tradition! ;D