FIFTEEN young cancer victims are expected to fly into Shannon today, a day after they were due to begin a month's holiday in Ireland arranged by the Chernobyl Children's Project.
According to the organisers, the children, aged from eight to 14 years, were refused seats on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow. Their seats were instead given to adults flying to the US.
The organisers said a group of 132 young people from western Russia were booked on the flight yesterday morning, but were told the evening before they would not be accommodated.
The Aeroflot office in Shannon and the Russian embassy were inundated with calls following an appeal by the director of the Chernobyl Children's Project, Ms Adi Roche, to pressurise them into allowing the youngsters to travel. Eventually 117 of the group were flown to Shannon yesterday, and the remainder were being put up in a Moscow hotel overnight.
However, according to an aviation consultant, Mr Paul Duffy, only 102 children were confirmed as booked for the flight at the special children's fare of $250. "Aeroflot advises me that the bookings for 132 children were discussed only in January and February. The fares have not yet (as of June 21st) been received by the airline, but Aeroflot told the charity that only 102, could be confirmed for June 21st."
Mr Duffy said a group of 132 would be difficult to carry as the aircraft flying the route are 138 seaters. "It is unusual that such a large group would be carried normal scheduled services. The number justified a specific charter Wight, and Aeroflot has special arrangements to cater for such charity groups."
According to Ms Roche, seats were booked last March with Aeroflot for 1,200 children, of whom 150 were going to Britain and 100 to Boston in the US. She said they were quoted a very reasonable rate. However, within the last few days, Aeroflot said it could not carry the children as they could sell the seats to adults for much higher fares.
"We were devastated and got them to change their minds. We believed all the children were being looked after until Friday, when we were told none of the group travelling on Saturday could be carried. This changed a few times, and in the end just 15 were left behind."
Ms Roche and Aer Rianta personnel in Moscow were instrumental in ensuring most of the children travelled and the remainder were given accommodation. An Aeroflot spokesperson would only confirm the airline would be flying the rest of the children today.
The children, all suffering from cancer following the Chernobyl reactor disaster 10 years ago, had a 28 hour bus journey to get to Moscow.
Project organisers were also critical of the Virgin Atlantic airline which transported 65 people, aged from 15 to 17 years, from Gatwick to Boston but charged two different rates. The bill of £22,300 was £5,400 more than anticipated by the project.
The general manager with Virgin Atlantic in Ireland, Ms Sharon Harney, said the lower fare of £260 was for those travelling mid week while the fare for the weekend was £440.