Scots families – and 130 children – had boarded a Glasgow flight to Finland to enjoy a magical day of husky rides, snow mobiles and a special meeting with Santa.
Stephenie Bird-Young, husband Chris, kids Aaden and Amelia, and grandparents are Ally and Sandra. (Image: Supplied)
Hundreds of kids were left in tears after a flight to visit Santa in Lapland was axed on the runway.
Families had forked out thousands of pounds for a festive day-trip experience from Glasgow Airport to Finland on Thursday, December 11.
Excited children boarded the 7am flight wearing festive jumpers and red hats for a magical day of husky rides, snowmobiles, and a sleigh ride with Santa through a snow-covered Lapland forest.
But the Christmas dream crumbled when passengers were told something had struck the plane windscreen moments before take off.
Parents had to console crying children as they were escorted off the flight – operated by Enter Air on behalf of Transun – but with no backup aircraft available the trip was cancelled.
Mum Stefenie Bird-Young, 36, from Kilmarnock, was travelling with her husband Chris, 35, and children Aaden, 9, and Amelia, 7. They had paid £2,300 for the long-awaited adventure, while grandparents Ally, 66, and Sandra had paid a further £1,000 to join.
She told the Record: “We were about to take off – then something happened and we were told to disembark.
Stephenie Bird-Young, husband Chris, kids Aaden and Amelia, and grandparents are Ally and Sandra.(Image: Supplied)
“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 morning began with excitement as families queued up to take photographs in the departure lounge. But excitement turned to panic as the plane came to a halt on the runway before turning back to the gate.
Stefenie said the reaction from the children on board — more than 130 of them — was heartbreaking.
Aaden and Amelia were fiull of excitement.
“When they told us the flight was cancelled the kids all burst out crying.
“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.”
For the family, the disappointment was even more painful due to grandad Ally’s health. He is living with terminal blood cancer — myeloma — and has to take each day as it comes.
The kids were enjouing a special trip with their grandparents.
“We had been planning this for six months. It was so important for us to create lasting memories as a family, especially with my dad’s condition.” Stefenie added.
Barrhead Travel tried to source alternative travel but the only option available would have cost the family £5,000.
“I just can’t justify that,” she said. “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 experience was echoed by other families on the flight, including mum Jillian McCreath, who said she was “gutted and heartbroken” after the trip was pulled at the last minute.
She said: “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.”
Parents described how staff at the airport were visibly upset after breaking the news to helpless families.
Stefenie added: “It felt like a bad dream. My two children were so upset today. It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.”
Aaden and Amelia on the plane ready for a trip to see Santa.
A Transun spokesperson said: “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.”
Day-trips from the UK to Lapland have soared in popularity over recent years. Families who are desperate to create a magical Christmas experience are saving thousands booking one-day experiences to meet Father Christmas and go on a sleigh ride through the snow.
Earlier this year TUI announced the launch of a Lapland day trip programme for winter 2026, with flights leaving 11 airports across the UK, including Glasgow.
