Hundreds of youngsters in tears as Lapland flight to go to Santa axed on runway
Families had forked out thousands of pounds for a festive day-trip experience from Glasgow Airport to Finland on Thursday, December 11. Kids have been left heartbroken
Hundreds of youngsters were left heartbroken after their magical flight to see Father Christmas in Lapland was scrapped on the tarmac.
Families had splashed out thousands of pounds for the festive day-trip adventure from Glasgow Airport to Finland on Thursday, December 11. Delighted children climbed aboard the 7am flight sporting Christmas jumpers and festive red hats, anticipating an enchanting day of husky rides, snowmobiles, and a sleigh journey with Santa through the snow-blanketed Lapland wilderness.
However, the yuletide fantasy collapsed when passengers were informed that something had hit the aircraft’s windscreen just moments before departure. Mums and dads were forced to comfort devastated youngsters as they were led off the aircraft – run by Enter Air on behalf of Transun – but with no replacement plane available, the expedition was scrapped, reports the Daily Record.
Mother Stefenie Bird-Young, 36, from Kilmarnock, was travelling with her husband Chris, 35, and children Aaden, 9, and Amelia, 7. They had shelled out £2,300 for the eagerly anticipated trip, whilst grandparents Ally, 66, and Sandra had stumped up an additional £1,000 to tag along.
She told the Record: “We were about to take off – then something happened and we were told to disembark. The next thing we knew the flight was cancelled and we were told ‘go home’.
“It’s a chartered flight for a day trip so there was no other plane for us. You only get one shot. The sound of the children crying their hearts out was unbearable.”
The day started with pure joy as excited families gathered in the departure lounge, snapping photos and building anticipation. Yet that joy quickly transformed into devastation when the aircraft ground to a halt on the tarmac before returning to the terminal.
Stefenie described the heartbreaking scene that unfolded amongst the youngsters on board – over 130 children in total. “When they told us the flight was cancelled the kids all burst out crying,” she said.
“It was devastating. As a mum I just wanted to fix it for them, but there was nothing we could do. My own two are absolutely heartbroken. They told all their friends and teachers they were going to Lapland to meet Santa. We were up at 3am, the excitement was huge – and then everything just collapsed.”
The crushing blow was made even more unbearable given grandad Ally’s deteriorating health. He’s battling terminal blood cancer – myeloma – and faces an uncertain future with each passing day.
“We had been planning this for 6 months. It was so important for us to create lasting memories as a family, especially with my dad’s condition,” Stefenie revealed.
Barrhead Travel attempted to arrange alternative arrangements, but the sole remaining option would have set the family back £5,000.
“I just can’t justify that,” she explained. “We’ve been told we can wait until next year or take a refund, but with my dad’s health we genuinely don’t know if next year is even possible. And Aaden is getting older so we don’t know if he’ll have that same excitement to meet Santa.”
Their ordeal was shared by other families aboard the aircraft, including mum Jillian McCreath, who revealed she was “gutted and heartbroken” after the journey was axed at the eleventh hour.
She explained: “Gutted and heartbroken – our trip today to Lapland was cancelled. Boarded the plane, got to the runway to take off and stopped. There was a technical fault. Told the flight would not be going, to go home and contact the travel agent. A plane full of very upset kids.”
Mums and dads described how airport staff were visibly distressed whilst delivering the devastating news to helpless families. Stefenie continued: “It felt like a bad dream. My two children were so upset today. It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.”
A Transun spokesman revealed: “We were saddened that yesterday’s day trip from Glasgow had to be cancelled. We were informed that the aircraft was struck from outside whilst taxiing to the runway which broke the cockpit window. The aircraft returned to the stand and passengers disembarked.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience and understand there will be disappointment, particularly for children. Affected passengers have been given the option of either transferring their booking to another available date or receive a full refund.”
One-day trips from the UK to Lapland have exploded in popularity in recent years. Families desperate to craft a magical Christmas memory are saving thousands by booking single-day adventures to meet Father Christmas and enjoy sleigh rides through the snow.
Earlier this year, TUI unveiled a Lapland day trip programme for winter 2026, with flights departing from 11 airports across the UK, including Glasgow.
