Stranded Turkish Airline passengers, weep, turn to ‘beggars’

* Hotel re-admits travellers amid protest*

Turkish Airlines passengers were a pathetic sight to behold as many of them turned to beggars and wept over the inhuman treatment given to them by the airline.Meanwhile, Golden Tulip Festac Hotel, Lagos has accepted back scores of passengers that were supposed to have departed out of Lagos since Saturday last week after protest from the irate travellers which almost led to the breakdown of law and order at the premises of the sprawling hotel.

The hotel management hadon Monday ejected many of the stranded passengers. There were over 410 people who had bought the carrier’s tickets with plans to travel to their destinations from Turkish’s hub in Istanbul.Turkish Airlines, had in a statementon Monday, said: “On behalf of Turkish Airlines Lagos, we regret the inconveniences in the disruption of Lagos to Istanbul flight due to bad weather issue on January 7. “We hereby advise you to proceed to our Head Office at 1, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria IslandLagos for a change of your ticket to other available dates or ask for a full refund at your ticket purchase unit.We hope to see you flying with us in the future.”A passenger, who simply gave his name as Kennedy, said the airline had kept them in the hotel for days without signs that they would fly.A source said Turkish Airline officials were embarrassed with the ejection of the passengers who were expected by international regulations to be accommodated in good hotels if an airline fails to perform its responsibility of carrying already ticketed passengers. One of the passengers, Michael Okoroafor told Woleshadare.net that they now feed from handto mouth and at the mercy of friends and good Samaritans, claiming that they had exhausted the money had on them. Most of the passengers who spoke to New Telegraph said the carrier was able to do one flight yesterday, saying that the carrier advised them to buy fresh tickets if they intend to travel, saying refunds would be sorted out at a later date.According to Okoroafor, “The hotel accepted us after a massive protest by the stranded passengers. We protested why they decided to eject us. The head of the airline’s operations in Nigeria told us that they were not aware that we were sent out of the hotel. They accepted us back.”He disclosed that only two flights were operated since Sunday; oneon Saturday and another one today (Tuesday), stressing that the irony of it is that the airline was seen sellingtickets even when they are not flying passengers.“Many of us don’t have money. We are living from hands to mouth. They even told some people that they have slated them to depart on January 15, describing the action as ‘man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.”