FRUSTRATED passengers at Kent International Airport waited calmly after EUjet flights were grounded today.

Hundreds had checked in as normal, many unaware of the uncertainty surrounding PlaneStation's future.

Shortly after 10am, uniformed and special branch police officers had arrived in the passenger terminal. An announcement was then made to passengers that all flights were suspended.

Jo Dixon, of Teynham, near Sittingbourne, had arrived with daughter Haley Surridge, of Bapchild, just after 7am for a 10.20am flight to Majorca.

She said: "We had heard on TV about the problems but hoped our flights would go ahead. We checked in early. At 10.15am it was announced there had been a delay. We noticed there were no flights at all and they had closed the gates.

"Then the police arrived and it was announced at 11.15am that all flights had been suspended."

Mrs Dixon said the airport had been packed and people had reacted calmly to news of the suspension of flights. Many had left, presumably because they were quite local and had their own transport.

She said: "Everyone is wondering what is going on. Not knowing and the lack of knowledge is hard. This is frustrating and disappointing. This is the first time we have been here. We were going to stay with my sister as my daughter has just got over cancer.

"No-one seems to know what is happening. I feel sorry for the staff because they are potentially losing their jobs. No-one seems to know what is happening. We will stick it out in the slim chance our flight will be rescheduled. If not we will try and find an alternative."

Mother and daughter had paid £141 each for their flights and hoped the payments would be refundable if the flight did not take place.

Honza Novak, 38, from Prague, was waiting resolutely, hoping his 10.45am flight to his home city would be rescheduled. He too was anxious about compensation for his ticket if his flight did not take place. He said: "I feel very sad about this."

Carol Pellet and Teresa Moss had been booked to fly out to the Spanish town of Murcia but they now face a long wait to find out if their holiday has been cancelled or even if they will get their money back.

Teresa said: "I phoned up this morning to find out if anything had changed but they said that all flights were scheduled to run.

"It wasn't until we arrived we found out that all flights were suspended.

"My son and daughter-in-law are stuck in Murcia at the moment waiting to hear if they can get a flight back, but they can't get any information."

"We've used EUjet before and they've been very good. It's so convenient as it's so close to and you only need to turn up 40 minutes before your flight."

Carol said: "I think everyone took the news quite well. I hope that they're able to sort something out, even if it is just getting our money back."

By noon, there were roughly 100 passengers waiting in and around the main passenger terminal. Some were slightly heartened by the arrival of new flight crews, including pilots.

Many people were on mobile telephones trying to adjust their arrangements in the event of the worst.

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