Scots families have been left stranded in Rhodes after TUI axed an Aberdeen flight while passengers queued to check in at the airport. Furious holidaymakers were left to sleep on the floor in Rhodes after the 10.20pm flight was cancelled without any notice on Wednesday night.
Exhausted pensioners and children curled up on the floor for several hours without food or water while waiting for an update for the airline. They were then shipped off to various hotels around the Greek island at around 2am before being told they would be booked on a flight to Glasgow on Thursday night.
Passengers were waiting to check their baggage into the hold, while others were arriving at the airport when the flight was scrapped. Bonnie Keightley and two of her friends were caught up in the delays.
The 26-year-old, from Aberdeen, said: "We got an email on the way to the airport saying the flight was cancelled. We arrived soon after and were left with the other passengers from 7.30pm until 1.30am with hardly any communication.
"We had no food and were only offered one bottle of water before a rep told us we were going to hotels, so they arranged coaches for everyone."
The student, who works part time in a nursery, said when they finally arrived at a hotel on Thursday morning the receptionist had no idea they were coming.
She said: "We turned up at our replacement hotel after six hours waiting in the airport and the hotel didn't even recognise our booking. We were waiting in reception for two hours trying to sort it over the phone, then eventually TUI phoned us back and said we were moving to a different hotel.
"We didn't get there until 4am. We were sitting in the restaurant cafe this afternoon and still hadn't heard about transfers back to the airport. The lack of communication from TUI has been really frustrating.
"I was supposed to be working on Friday but the flight is now going to Glasgow. Then I have to get a coach back up which won’t be due until roughly 4 or 5am - so I don’t think I will make it. My friend was supposed to have her induction day for her new job tomorrow but she has had to rearrange.
"We just want to get back home."
It's understood holidaymakers will now be put on a flight to Glasgow Airport at 9.20pm tonight. From there they will be shuttled to Aberdeen on a three-hour coach journey arriving at 5am on Friday morning.
Cost engineer Les Swanson has been left fed up by the whole situation after a relaxing fortnight on the island.
The 64-year-old said: "People were lying on concrete floors for hours with screaming kids and fed up teenagers.
"We heard nothing until midnight when we were told we were getting shipped out into various hotels in Rhodes. We eventually got to bed at 3am and at 9am we were told to get out of our room by 11am.
"We have not heard anything official from TUI.
"Our flight to Greece was delayed for seven hours, now it's going to be more than 24 hours getting home.
"They offered us a £150 holiday voucher as compensation - but I hope it's transferable to Jet 2!"
A TUI spokesperson said: "We fully understand the frustration from customers due to travel back from Rhodes to Aberdeen.
"Unfortunately, the aircraft required additional engineering inspections which took longer than expected, and it had to remain in Rhodes overnight.
"We can confirm that this flight will now be departing for Glasgow Airport this evening. Transfers have been arranged to take customers to back to Aberdeen from Glasgow Airport.
"All customers were sent direct text messages with all the required information and we’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding."
