Manchester Airport

Carol Hutchins had been looking forward to a sunny break in the TUI Magic Life Hotel in Fuerteventura with her daughter, Layla, at the end of October, but she didn’t get further than the airport

A disabled woman has been left “very upset” after she missed her holiday to the Canary Islands because of her mobility scooter battery.

Carol Hutchins had been looking forward to a sunny break in the TUI Magic Life Hotel in Fuerteventura with her daughter, Layla, at the end of October. However, the mum-and-daughter duo’s dream trip ended at Manchester Airport, where staff told them Carol’s scooter couldn’t be loaded onto the plane.

Carol has been left “very upset” by the missed holiday and the fact that she’s over £1,000 out of pocket. There is no suggestion that TUI did not follow protocol. However, Carol and Layla’s experience serves as a warning to Brits travelling overseas with a mobility scooter.

A TUI spokesperson explained: “We’re sorry that Ms Hutchins wasn’t able to travel on her holiday, and we recognise how upsetting that must have been for her. This was due to them not having the required documentation and battery identification information for their electric mobility aid, which meant it couldn’t be cleared to fly under safety guidance. The TUI airport team supported her on the day and explored alternative options, which she chose not to accept.”

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Carol booked her holiday to the sun-soaked Canary Islands at the TUI Doncaster store on 23 October 2025. As the booking was made within two weeks of departure, the travel agent called the welfare team while Carol was in the shop, to make sure the mobility scooter was added to the booking.

When a mobility aid is added to a holiday booking, customers receive the Conditions of Carriage, which include important instructions passengers must follow before their flight.

They state: “The battery or batteries should clearly be labelled showing the type and the watt-hour (Wh) rating. Failure to show this can lead to refusal of battery or batteries. Please carry the manufacturer’s operating instructions with you, which will help you and the airport staff to block the vehicle’s electric circuits and remove the battery if necessary.”

According to TUI, the Conditions of Carriage were emailed to Ms Hutchins four times as her booking was updated, and given twice again alongside ticket documentation.

When Carol and Layla arrived at Manchester Airport on October 29, her battery did not have any visible ID label, meaning airport staff could not legally clear it under safety regulations.

An on-site duty manager contacted the resort team in Fuerteventura to find an alternative mobility scooter she could use on her holiday.

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However, according to Layla, Carol did not feel comfortable travelling without her own or with the idea that she might be without one for a period once at her destination.

According to TUI, Carol and Layla turned down the offer of two alternative flights and goodwill vouchers.

TUI’s website has a section that explains what customers on mobility scooters need to know and do before they travel.

Before flying with your electric mobility aid, you’ll need to:

• Check your battery type and specifications
• Provide battery details to TUI in advance
• Bring manufacturer documentation to the airport

TUI accepts these battery types:

• Non-spillable batteries (like AGM, Gel Cell, SLA)
• Lithium batteries with specific watt-hour limits:
• Single battery: maximum 300Wh
• Two batteries: maximum 160Wh each
• However, wet cell (spillable) batteries are not permitted on TUI flights.

Important pre-flight steps:

• Share your device’s battery details with TUI as early as possible
• Bring manufacturer documentation showing battery specifications
• If documentation is unavailable, check the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) website or contact your device manufacturer
• Remember that spare or removable batteries must be carried in the cabin

Hundreds of flights departing and arriving in the UK have been cancelled across several airports due to dangerous weather conditions with passengers advised to contact their airlines

Flights departing and arriving at several UK airports have been cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions.

Storm Hernando is causing chaos in the USA and, as a result, hundreds of flights have been cancelled on Monday, February 23.

The weather conditions on the east coast of the USA have already caused thousands of flights to and from the region to be cancelled.

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Flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Dublin Airport have all been impacted by the storm.

The National Weather Service has warned: “A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding across the Mid-Atlantic and north-east that may cause impossible travel conditions and power outages.”

Flights to JFK airport in New York, Newark airport in New Jersey and Boston airport are affected.

A huge 32 flights leaving from London Heathrow to JFK on Monday, February 23 have been cancelled. As well as departing flights, arrivals from the US destination have also been cancelled.

Three direct flights from Manchester have also been impacted. In Scotland, 35 flights that depart from Edinburgh have the second leg of their flight cancelled.

Posting on X, Dublin Airport said: “Due to adverse weather (Storm Hernando) on the east coast of the US, airlines have cancelled a number of flights due to operate to/from Dublin Airport on Monday.”

Dublin Airport said airlines had cancelled seven outbound and six inbound flights so far as a result of the storm.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates.

Located on the Atlantic coast, the country has a subtropical climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons, with average high temperatures in March reaching 34C

A breathtaking destination boasting 34C temperatures in March and direct flights from Britain offers travellers 50 miles of spectacular coastline featuring white-sand beaches. Dubbed ‘The Smiling Coast of Africa’, the Republic of The Gambia – or simply The Gambia – is so called after The Gambia River, which forms the core of the country’s geography.

It’s also mainland Africa’s smallest country and is celebrated for its friendly inhabitants. Situated along the Atlantic shoreline, The Gambia enjoys a subtropical climate characterised by distinctive dry and wet seasons.

In the capital, Banjul, average peak temperatures during March climb to 34C, whilst the ocean reaches an agreeable 26C. British holidaymakers travelling to Gambia can select from 17 airlines, according to Booking.com..

TUI operates holiday packages to The Gambia featuring flights from London Gatwick and Manchester Airport to Banjul International Airport, the nation’s capital. The journey from Britain takes approximately six and a half hours.

Despite measuring just 31 miles at its widest point, The Gambia features 50 miles of shoreline blessed with white-sand beaches, with standout locations including the coastal areas of Kotu and Kololi.

Surrounded entirely by the West African state of Senegal, The Gambia’s official language is English and has experienced “long spells of stability” since gaining independence from nearly 150 years of British colonial governance in 1965, according to the BBC.

A haven for nature enthusiasts, The Gambia is home to hippos, chimpanzees, crocodiles, and more than 600 species of birds. The nation also features nine distinct tribes, with the Mandinka forming the largest.

YouTuber Waleed Maoed, who recently visited The Gambia, documented his experience with locals in a video about the nation: “Honestly, it has been a great day in Gambia, home of the Smiling Coast.

“People here are awesome. Very welcoming. I definitely recommend visiting this country. This country is pretty cool.” He noted that despite having travelled to “many places” across Africa, Gambians had proven “super kind”.

The Gambia is a predominantly flat, low-lying strip of land split by the Gambia River, and, in what will come as a relief to those of us who struggle with jet lag, it operates on the same timezone as the UK.

Notable attractions include the River Gambia National Park, Kotu Beach, Kachikally Crocodile Pool, Albert Market and the historical Kunta Kinteh Island (previously called James Island).

Regarding traditional food, white rice accompanied by fiery sauces proves popular, according to The Gambian Experience, with the peanut-based Domoda stew serving as the national dish.

Additional specialities include spiced meat snack afra, meat-and-rice dish benachin, okra stew, palm wine, a bread variety called tapalapa, non-alcoholic wonjo juice, and chicken yassa.

Back in March 2013, Didi Danso penned a piece in the Mirror documenting a journey to The Gambia: “Stepping off the plane, warm air blasted me in the face. Temperatures are usually around 30C – one of the main reasons for its popularity with winter and spring sun-seekers.

“In the airport and beyond, people greeted me with a smiling face. This was so infectious that by the end of each day, my cheeks ached from smiling back.

“My first stop was the beautiful Kombo Beach Hotel in Kotu resort, where a light and airy room with a private balcony offered views of the ocean and beaches.

“Waking up to the sound of the sea was a delightful way to start the day. It convinced me to take a walk on the beautiful Bakau Beach – something I’d recommend to all.”