Jet2 are in for a summer of discontent unless they do something regarding their scheduled flight times from the UK to Murcia, which are due to arrive whilst the airport is normally not available to civilian traffic.
Yesterday's MAN flight was delayed for just that reason, with a knock on effect for the LS809 MAN-AGP flight, which the same aircraft operates.
Jet2 handed out letters to all AGP passengers at check-in, blaiming: changes in "airport operating times on an earlier flight"; "every effort has been made to achieve an alternative outcome"; "the situation was outside of our control": "your flight will be delayed for 2 hours 20 minutes". "We hope you will appreciate our position".
The answer to the last statement has to be a resounding "NO".
Jet2 have enough metal parked up at the moment to have made an alternative aircraft available. They knew well in advance of the AGP departure, that there was a problem, as they have known about the operating hours for civilian flights at Murcia before scheduling these flights.
It is not only flights from MAN that are affected. Todays flight from LBA is similarly delayed. BFS and BLK both have flights scheduled this summer to arrive at Murcia during the closed period.
The situation appears not to be outside of JET2's control.