PASSENGERS WAITING for a flight home from Spain were forced to endure an all-night wait, put on a “filthy” jet and not even given an apology, a Dundee woman has said.

Jane Ramsay, her husband John and their 10-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, were among about 200 people left frustrated and upset by their treatment at the hands of Air Scotland.

They arrived at Alicante airport on Saturday expecting to depart in the afternoon.

Instead they were stuck for more than 15 hours, with only a single meal to sustain them, while airport authorities waited for confirmation the airline could pay for the flight’s fuel.

Their story has become all too common as hundreds of passengers have been caught up in long delays caused by a cash crisis at the airline.

Mrs Ramsay said she and her family arrived at the airport at 2 pm for a 4.40 pm take-off, only to find the flight had been put back more than an hour.

It was then delayed again until almost 11 pm, without explanation, but the plane did not arrive until after that had come and gone.

“We assumed the plane was being fuelled up because the fuel tanker was there, but after three- quarters of an hour it went away,” Mrs Ramsay said.

Later, an airline rep told passengers the airport was waiting on a confirmation of payment.

The passengers asked for refreshments and blankets and, despite the children and babies there, nappies or bottles were not available.

Mrs Ramsay said she had heard rumours that all was not well with the airline, but the rep proved unable to offer any explanation.

After waiting all night, the passengers were squeezed on to two buses that took them to the plane for a 5.30 am departure.

“The plane was filthy. There were crumbs all over the seat. It had obviously not been cleaned.

“A stewardess said the captain would explain during the flight why we had been delayed, but he never spoke to us. I am sure he was as frustrated as we were, but he could at least have apologised on behalf of the company.”

And to cap it all, Mrs Ramsay’s luggage was damaged and she has had to file a compensation claim.

A spokeswoman for Air Scotland said, “We unreservedly apologise to all our passengers.”

The company has asked all passengers flying with it this week to get in touch to confirm flight times.