EasyJet flight to Mallorca diverts to France for refueling

On September 2, an EasyJet flight from Southampton to Palma, Mallorca, was forced to divert to Lille, France, for refueling due to weight restrictions. The Airbus A319, scheduled to depart at 9:10 AM, was unable to carry enough fuel for the 800-mile journey while also accommodating its full payload of passengers and baggage. This situation arose despite recent runway extensions at Southampton airport intended to facilitate more holiday flights. Passengers were informed that the crew had two options: either turn away 20 passengers or stop to refuel. The decision to refuel was made to avoid significant compensation costs and logistical challenges associated with offloading passengers. The flight took off late and, after a 45-minute detour to Lille, the aircraft remained on the ground for refueling before continuing its journey. The choice of Lille as a refueling stop was based on stand availability and staff resources, despite it being in the opposite direction of the intended destination. After the refueling, the flight resumed its course to Palma, departing Lille shortly after noon, which was around the time they were originally expected to arrive in Mallorca. Ultimately, the total delay amounted to 90 minutes, which meant that passengers were not eligible for compensation. EasyJet emphasized that the safety and well-being of customers is their top priority and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by this unexpected detour.