Glasgow holidaymakers 'heartbroken' following Thomas Cook collapse

Hundreds of Glasgow holidaymakers due to take-off for their holidays have been left 'heartbroken' following the collapse of Thomas Cook.

The company was put into administration in the early hours after failing to raise the £200-million demanded by lenders.

Flights to Lanzarote, Dalaman and Orlando are among those cancelled from Glasgow today.

"A horrific situation"

It has also left 150,000 British holidaymakers stranded abroad.

The Civil Aviation Authority is starting the biggest operation to bring UK citizens currently on their holidays back home.

They will be brought home by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is drafting in empty planes from around the world.

The travel firm employed 9,000 people in the UK, and another 12,000 globally.

A million customers will also lose their future bookings, although many will get refunds.

Milea Leone only became aware her return from her holiday with sisters in Mallorca, Spain, was cancelled through social media.

She had been due to fly out to Glasgow on Monday morning and arrive at around 12pm, but now faces a diversion to Birmingham before a coach journey back north of the border.

It has added around nine hours onto her travel time.

Ms Leone told PA: “Everyone seems very confused. We are waiting to check in with our new flight due to leave at 10.30am to Birmingham rather than Glasgow.

“There isn't much communication going on - I'm glad that I'm still able to get back to the UK at least.

“I was annoyed. I only found out on social media.

“My flight tracker said the flight was going so I'm glad I checked social media."

Paul McLennan was supposed to fly to Orlando in Florida from Glasgow on Monday morning.

He said: "I booked in yesterday and was told everything was OK then we came up (to the airport) this morning and got this.

"I've got no idea what we are going to do now. This has been booked for nearly two years so to say I'm scunnered is an understatement."

Garry McCallum had been due to depart from Dalaman in Turkey to his home in Glasgow on Monday evening.

The 42-year-old had been on a short trip with his wife Eliza in Hisaronu when news emerged that Thomas Cook had collapsed and flights had been cancelled.

He said he will just be “relieved to get home'' after managing to organise another flight, although he expects to get back to Scotland about nine hours later than planned.

Mr McCallum told the PA news agency: “I was always checking the situation, but with no control over it what can you do?

“If there had been no information released by the Civil Aviation Authority today then I would've definitely panicked.

“My flight only takes off roughly 50 minutes later than the original Thomas Cook flight, but of course I need to go to Birmingham and then transferred from there.

“There are a few incidents in the hotel at the moment with staff looking for remainders of accommodation costs to be settled.''

He added: “Still, I'll only relax fully when I'm on that plane."

A number of Barrhead Travel customers are also affected.

Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel said: “The team at Barrhead Travel were all saddened to hear of the news this morning that the well-loved travel brand, Thomas Cook, has ceased trading. Our thoughts are with all those affected – especially their employees and holidaymakers.

“A number of Barrhead Travel customers have been affected by the collapse of their tour-operating division. Right now, our customers are our priority; we have an emergency team in place who have been working around the clock to get in touch with our clients and to start making alternative arrangements. We would ask our customers to please bear with us while we ensure that those who are currently on holiday or imminently due to travel are contacted as a priority. We will then be working through all of our bookings by date of travel.

“As all of Barrhead Travel’s holidays are fully financially protected, our customers can rest assured that they will not lose a penny of their hard-earned money."