Celtic’s much-anticipated Champions League group stage opener against Feyenoord on Tuesday, 19th September, is facing unprecedented travel complications. The club has announced that it will not be running any travel packages for the Rotterdam match due to a unique set of circumstances.
Celtic usually offers travel packages for fans looking to support the team in European competitions. However, the club has confirmed that it will not be able to provide this service for the Feyenoord match.
The decision comes as a result of a lack of available hotel accommodation in Rotterdam, owing to a large conference taking place in the city at the same time as the match. Adding to the woes, the excessive cost of available charter aircraft has made it financially unfeasible for the club to arrange travel packages.
Further complicating matters is a night-time flying curfew at Rotterdam Airport, which is in effect from 11 pm to 7 am. This makes it impossible for Nirvana, the travel partner, to offer a same-day trip for Celtic’s first UEFA Champions League tie of the season.
Celtic has been allocated 2,400 tickets for the game, but these have not yet been put on sale to travelling fans. Despite the travel complications, we expect many more fans in Rotterdam than the 2400.
While the travel issues are a setback, they won’t dampen the spirits of the Celtic faithful. The Bhoys are gearing up for a challenging but promising Champions League campaign, starting with a tough match against Feyenoord.
