Scotland football fans have found themselves stuck in Athens following their team’s 1-0 victory over Greece. A fire near London’s Heathrow Airport led to flight cancellations, forcing supporters to find alternative ways home—or extend their celebrations in Greece.
Struggle to Get Back Home
The fire, which broke out at an electrical substation near Heathrow, has caused widespread disruption. British Airways flights between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Heathrow have been affected, leaving many passengers scrambling for new travel plans.
Supporters have resorted to rerouting through cities such as:
- Dublin
- Milan
- Istanbul
- Rome
Despite the inconvenience, many fans are keeping their spirits high. Some have even embraced the delay as an excuse for an extended holiday.
“We’ll Stay for a Party”
Gavin Keith and Edith Stewart from Aberdeen woke up on Friday morning to the news that their flight had been disrupted. They were booked on a group flight to Aberdeen via Heathrow but now face uncertainty.
“If we can’t get out of here tonight, we’ll stay for a party,” Edith said. “I would prefer to get home, but it’s the chance you take when traveling.”
While they have been offered a 17:00 flight to Heathrow, they remain doubtful it will go ahead. With the airport out of action for the day, passengers are left waiting for updates from airlines.
Fans Finding Alternative Routes
BBC journalist Thomas Mackintosh, who was also in Athens for the match, shared some of the unusual routes fans are taking to get home.
“We’ve heard some pretty wacky routes—some are going via Dublin, others via Rome, Milan, or Istanbul,” he said. “It’s inconvenient for sure, but the Greek authorities have been really helpful.”
For those desperate to get home, the cost has been steep. Mackintosh mentioned that securing a new flight set him back around €500 (£418).
Last-Minute Travel Plans
Graeme Shinny, another fan from Aberdeen, spent £500 on a flight from Athens to Dublin at 21:30. He expects to arrive in Ireland around midnight, where he will stay overnight at the airport before catching a morning flight to Scotland.
“I’ve made the most of my extra day in Athens,” he said. “I did a bit of sightseeing and bumped into a lot of people in the same situation. Some aren’t in a rush to get back, but I had to.”
Shinny hopes to be back in Aberdeen by 09:30 on Saturday—just in time for the Scotland v Greece second leg on Sunday and his son’s birthday on Monday.
