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Champions League Final: The alternative routes to Kiev for Liverpool fans

After charter flights from Merseyside to the Ukrainian capital were cancelled, what are the options?

Simon Calder
Travel Correspondent
Friday 25 May 2018 13:54 BST
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Ahead of the crowd: Liverpool fans in Kiev
Ahead of the crowd: Liverpool fans in Kiev (AFP)

Hundreds of Liverpool fans are seeking alternative routes to reach Kiev for Saturday’s Champions League Final, after several charter flights from Merseyside to the Ukrainian capital were cancelled.

Finding airline seats to Kiev has proved extremely difficult even before the cancellations. Real Madrid fans got the pick of the connections because their team qualified 24 hours ahead of Liverpool.

But options are still available – though at sky-high prices. All of these are one-way options; it will be relatively straightforward to arrange travel home. The pressure is on getting there before kick-off at 9.45pm, local time.

Many hubs of the usual hubs, from Vienna to Doha, don’t work – either because the flights are full, or because there are no feasible timings. Added to the last-minute nature of the booking, and that is why fares are so high. Here are some of the best options to get there in time for the game.

Israeli stopover

Luton-Sofia in Bulgaria departing 9.40pm on Wizz Air, changing there for Tel Aviv, where you arrive at 9.05am.

Tel Aviv-Kiev Boryspil departing 2.35pm, arriving 5.45pm on Ukraine International.

Total: £608.

Benefits: A beautiful Mediterranean city for the morning. And Ukraine International has the cheapest on-board beer of any European airline, just €2 for a large and tasty can.

Georgian adventure

Manchester-Istanbul on Turkish Airlines at 4.30pm this afternoon, overnight stay.

Istanbul-Batumi in Georgia departing 6.30am flight; Batumi-Kiev Borispyl on Yan Air at 1.15pm, arriving 2.40pm.

Total: £1,250 plus the hotel in Istanbul.

Benefits: A night in an amazing city, a morning in a Black Sea resort

Moldovan diversion

Manchester-Istanbul on Turkish Airlines at 4.30pm this afternoon, overnight stay.

Istanbul-Chisinau in Moldova departing 7.50am, arriving 9.25am.

Taxi across the Ukrainian border to Odessa, flight from there at 1.10pm to Kiev Zhulyany, arriving 2.30pm.

Total: £1,250 assuming the taxi costs £70.

Benefits: The chance to see a new country, Moldova.

For both of these, there’s also a 5pm from Birmingham to Istanbul, which will be cheaper.

Emirates excursion

Manchester-Dubai departing 9.15pm tonight, arriving 7.25am on Saturday morning.

Dubai-Kiev Zhulyany on FlyDubai departing 9.20am, arriving 2.10pm.

Total: £4,008

Benefits: It’s business class.

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