A family has hit out at an airline company after their request for compensation was turned down following a 13-hour journey home.

Eastern Daily Press: Aerial view of Norwich Airport, Oct 2015. Picture: Mike PageAerial view of Norwich Airport, Oct 2015. Picture: Mike Page (Image: Copypright Mike Page, All Rights ReservedBefore any use is made of this picture, including dispaly, publication, broadcast, syn)

The Wilsons had spent a happy week skiing in south-east France and were ready to make the two-hour flight to Norwich from Chambery Airport on February 4.

But because of high winds air company Flybe chose to cancel - rather than delay - their flight, and transferred passengers to another plane later in the day which was bound for Cardiff.

Upon landing in Wales they were all told to board a coach, which took another seven hours to get them back to Norwich.

No compensation has been offered by Flybe.

Ian Wilson, who works for Virgin Money and runs Blofield Pool, said: 'I'm a mild-mannered guy and if a flight is delayed for a few hours I think we can all accept that,

'But Flybe just didn't care about us.

'Instead of putting us on a flight to Birmingham, Luton, or Stansted, they sent us all the way to Cardiff and then put us on a rickety old bus for seven hours.

'It's ridiculous that we're not getting any compensation at all from Flybe.'

He said planes began taking off and landing at Chambery Airport again around three hours after their scheduled flight - following a temporary suspension of all flights because of the winds.

But Flybe insisted that it was not legally obliged to pay compensation for the delay, though a spokesman said the company is looking to improve communication with passengers during disruption.

They added: 'Flybe regrets the inconvenience experienced by Mr Wilson due to the cancellation of the above flight as a result of the adverse weather conditions that were entirely beyond our control, and can confirm that compensation under EU261 in this instance is not applicable given the extraordinary circumstances of the situation.

'Flybe values its customers and so made alternative arrangements so that they could continue their travel on to Norwich with as little further undue delay as possible.

'Flybe can confirm that it is looking to improve communication with its passengers during such times of disruption.'