A family from the beautiful island of Nanumanga, Tuvalu, located 9,000 miles away, has received heartening news – they can now return home after a long and uncertain wait. Grandfather Amosa Soani, 60, his son Tumau Amosa, 31, and eight-year-old Vatau Fakavae are all set to make it back just in time for Christmas, thanks to a change of heart by airline authorities.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the family found themselves stuck in the charming Ayrshire village of Stair. They have been staying with their relatives, Tumau’s sister Nafiata and her husband Neil McNaughton, who have generously opened their home to them during this tough period.

On December 4, the family will depart from Glasgow and make their way to their homeland, Nanumanga. They will have a layover in Hong Kong and then Fiji before finally arriving at their destination. Neil McNaughton was persistent in his efforts to get his stranded relatives home, tirelessly corresponding with British Airways over the course of 18 months, dealing with numerous cancelled flights.

Last week, the airline shockingly claimed that Tumau didn’t exist as a passenger and that his ticket reference had vanished from their system. Despite Neil’s previous attempts to book flights until August this year, the airline insisted that Tumau was a non-existent passenger. However, after a phone call from Neil, the airline created a new reference and booked Tumau and his family on the flight back home.

Neil expressed his relief and joy, saying, “It’s taken us two years to get to this point and get them on a flight. The phone call came at the 11th hour, we were ready to give up, take a refund and just move on to try and find another route for them back home which could have taken months. I set out to help get them home. I’m so glad we managed to achieve that.”

The family arrived in Scotland in November 2019 for what was supposed to be a six-month holiday, but their plans were upended due to the pandemic. They have been unable to return home due to cancelled flights and international travel restrictions, resulting in a near two-year lockdown in Scotland.

Neil admits feeling a little sadness at saying goodbye to the family. Vatau, who came to Scotland at the age of six, will now return home at the age of eight, having completed almost two full school years and saying goodbye to his classmates. Tumau, on the other hand, has grown fond of Scottish life and hopes to return one day.

Notably, during their time in Scotland, they had the opportunity to host delegates from Tuvalu who were attending Cop26, a global climate summit. The family made the most of their extended stay, and the delegates’ visit helped strengthen the bond between Tuvalu and Scotland.

British Airways spokesperson expressed their anticipation in flying their customers back home soon. It’s a moment of relief and celebration for the family as they eagerly await their long-awaited reunion with their homeland.