‘There have been ash clouds and Covid and there’s still no back-up plan’, said one frustrated and stranded UK tourist interviewed about the air traffic control chaos.

And as Monday’s problems persist so will stories of the immense struggle to get home.

While this isn’t a problem of the airlines’ making – their response is coming in for sharp criticism.

In the event of delays or cancellations – insists regulator the Civil Aviation Authority – passengers should expect regular offers of food and drink as well as accommodation if they are delayed overnight.

But a scan of social media suggests this is far from the case for many – with growing numbers of passengers complaining of a lack of staff, support, services or information.

Even our local Facebook ‘gossip board’ hundreds of miles away in Kent has seen a desperate appeal for anyone who knows anyone with available accommodation in the Algarve for a family fending for themselves after being told it’ll be days before they can fly home.

The frustrated holidaymaker is right – there’s little sign of a mass plan B. But should there be?

Should airlines or operators be expected to cover-off every eventuality they didn’t cause from technical outages to weather?

Firms operating on already-tight margins and staffing levels, after years ravaged by Covid, probably don’t relish the thought of footing the bill to mop-up costly problems not of their making.

Whether it be an ash cloud, wildfires, a pandemic or technical glitches – problems and complaints with air travel and a perceived lack of support for customers – roll around fairly regularly with providers frequently falling short of people’s expectations.

But perhaps it’s the rules that are the issue?

It’s been suggested travel insurance won’t pay-out if it’s an issue airlines are responsible for. But isn’t that the point of an insurance policy? Peace of mind when the unexpected happens?

The ability to have affordable holidays while being safe in the knowledge all hiccups will be met with first-class service that costs quadruple is an impossible ask.

It’s no wonder so many operators and airlines have gone bust in recent times.

No company can operate under a business model in which they sell a £200 ticket but then have to cover-off 10 times that for thousands of passengers each time there’s a problem. The maths doesn’t add up. Not for long anyway.

A replacement flight, absolutely. But every outgoing in the meantime? Plus the suggestion of compensation?

For a problem they didn’t even cause?

Do train companies offer a hotel and pay for that lukewarm station burger if they cancel your last train home? Or meet your day’s wages during a strike?

If we begin fining airlines for a perceived lack of care – as has been put forward - prices will quadruple overnight to cover those potential payouts and holidays will become something only the most wealthy can afford.