EasyJet cancels Enfidha-Belfast flight, leaving more than 100 stranded in Tunisia

Disruption overview

More than 100 EasyJet passengers were left stranded in Tunisia after the airline canceled its 22 August 2026 flight from Enfidha-Hamamet Airport to Belfast International Airport at short notice. EasyJet later said an additional direct flight to Belfast would operate on Tuesday night, but until then travelers were left dealing with extra hotel stays, expensive rebooking costs, and urgent personal pressures. Some passengers were trying to get home for family reasons, while others were running low on prescription medication after several unexpected extra days abroad. Because the reason for the cancellation still isn't clear, any compensation claim will depend on whether the disruption was within the airline's control, although passengers should still receive rerouting or a refund, plus food, accommodation, and other essential care.

Disruption details

More than 100 passengers have been stranded in Tunisia after EasyJet canceled its Belfast-bound flight from Enfidha-Hamamet Airport to Belfast International Airport on 22 August 2026. The disruption was still ongoing at the time of publication, leaving travelers waiting several days for a confirmed way home.

For passengers, this meant far more than a routine cancellation. The flight was pulled at short notice, and EasyJet initially said it had no replacement capacity available for as long as 10 days. In the middle of the busy summer travel period, that left families and other holidaymakers scrambling to rebuild their plans from scratch.

The cost of doing that has been steep. One traveler had already spent £4,000 arranging alternative transport for a family of 5, which was more than the cost of the original package holiday. When spare seats are hard to find, even a single canceled flight can force passengers into expensive last-minute bookings.

The personal impact has been just as serious. Georgina Doherty was trying to get back to Northern Ireland with 6 children following the death of her mother-in-law. Other stranded passengers had urgent medical needs and were running low on prescription medication after being forced into an unplanned extended stay.

One family was especially worried about heart medication running short. That kind of pressure is what turns a flight cancellation from an inconvenience into a genuine welfare issue, especially when travelers are away from home, traveling with children, or relying on time-sensitive medical support.

Passengers also described poor communication and limited practical help. Some said EasyJet covered only the first 2 nights of hotel accommodation and then told them to arrange and pay for the rest themselves. For people already facing extra transport costs and longer stays abroad, that added another layer of stress.

EasyJet apologized for the disruption and said it had provided hotels and meals, and would reimburse reasonable expenses. The airline also said an additional direct flight to Belfast would operate on Tuesday night to bring stranded travelers home. At the time of publication, that extra service had been announced but had not yet completed the return journey.

Only 1 flight is known to have been affected, on the route between Enfidha-Hamamet Airport and Belfast International Airport. Even so, the lack of spare capacity shows how quickly a single canceled rotation can snowball, especially at a busy time of year. More than 100 people were effectively left stuck abroad because there was no immediate alternative.

What's still unclear is why the flight was canceled in the first place. That matters because your rights can depend on the root cause. If the problem was within the airline's control, compensation may be possible. If it was caused by something outside the airline's control, compensation is less likely, but the airline should still help get you home or offer a refund.

If you were affected, keep receipts for meals, hotels, transport, and other necessary spending linked to the disruption. You should also ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and any rerouting offered. And if you're not sure where you stand, AirHelp's free flight checker can help you understand whether compensation may apply and what support you should expect in the meantime.

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