- Title: PERU: Stranded Air Comet passengers continue protesting in Lima
- Date: 31st December 2009
- Summary: LIMA, PERU (DECEMBER 30, 2009) (REUTERS) PASSENGERS PROTESTING OUTSIDE SPANISH CONSULATE PASSENGERS PROTESTING CONSULATE OFFICIAL SAYING: YOU CAN'T COME IN BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS SPANISH CITIZEN COMPLAINING AND SHOWING MEDICAL CERTIFICATION FOR CHILD WITH BRAIN TUMOR CLOSE UP OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATION PASSENGERS PROTESTING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED SPANISH CITIZEN SAYING: "The Spanish government is to blame for letting the company sell tickets when they knew it was bankrupt. When I bought the tickets no one told me it was going to fold. They didn't give me any information." VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS PROTESTING RIOT POLICE GUARDING DOOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN CITIZEN JACKELYN MINAYA SAYING: "I have a child who is sick. They have to operate on him. Here it says that I have to operate on December 29." RIOT POLICE GUARDING DOOR EXTERIOR OF CONSULATE VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS LINING UP
- Embargoed: 15th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Peru
- Country: Peru
- Topics: International Relations,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVAAY93WHPCGGRT8MVIUMSVWYQK0
- Story Text: Passengers stranded in Lima by Air Comet suspension continue to demand Spanish government help them get return tickets to Spain.
The saga of passengers stranded in Peru by the closure of Spanish airline Air Comet continued on Wednesday (December 30) with around 100 angry people demanding the Spanish government help them get return tickets to Madrid.
Spain's public works ministry said on Tuesday (December 22) that it had suspended Air Comet's operating license after a UK court impounded nine of its aircraft at the request of German bank HSH Nordbank, which the airline owes 17 million euros ($24.32 million).
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded in Madrid and Latin American airports, but most were put on other flights.
But some passengers who had tickets for later dates are now finding they don't have any way to get back to Spain.
Riot police have been guarding the Spanish consulate in Lima where angry passengers protested for the third day straight, saying the Spanish government should step up and help them get tickets.
"The Spanish government is to blame for letting the company sell tickets when they knew it was bankrupt. When I bought the tickets no one told me it was going to fold. They didn't give me any information," said one Spanish citizen.
Peruvian citizen Jackelyn Minaya said her child has a brain tumor and missed his date for an operation.
"I have a child who is sick. They have to operate on him. Here it says that I have to operate on December 29," she said.
Air Comet operated about 10 routes to Latin American countries.
The public works ministry organized flights on alternative operators for the most urgent cases of Air Comet passengers stranded at Madrid's Barajas Airport, but other passengers say they must now pay $1500 for return trips on Iberian and the availability is scarce. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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