Hong Kong Budget Airline Flight Canceled
By DIKKY SINN
HONG KONG – A budget airline’s highly publicized inaugural flight from Hong Kong to London was scrapped Wednesday because it wasn’t cleared to fly in Russian airspace.
Embarrassed officials at Oasis Hong Kong Airlines insisted the problem wasn’t their fault, blaming Russia for revoking permission to fly over its territory.
The flight was canceled five hours after its scheduled departure. TV video showed passengers milling around the cabin of the Boeing 747-400.
Oasis chairman Raymond Lee, who was on board, said the delay was due to a last-minute holdup in approval to fly over Russian airspace.
“We are very disappointed about the incident,” Lee said. “We had obtained all necessary approvals and permissions before we decided to launch the flight.”
“They only notified us that the approval was revoked while we were boarding our passengers. … There was no way for us to inform our passengers in advance.”
Lee said the airline is seeking an explanation from Russian authorities and was exploring an alternate route to London.
In a statement issued earlier, the airline said its paperwork was in order and its flight over Russia had been approved.
“The Russian authorities, for unexplained reasons, have chosen to now hold up the over-flight rights,” the statement said.
Russian aviation officials couldn’t be reached for comment. Telephone calls to the Federal Air Navigation Service in Moscow went unanswered.
The airline was offering compensation of $64 and a free future ticket, as well as accommodations for those passengers not based in Hong Kong. It will also buy tickets on other carriers for those who must go to London on Wednesday, Lee said.
Oasis has promised low-budget long-haul fares while not skimping on in-flight services, relying on outsourced catering and call centers.
Oasis is advertising fares as low as $128 before taxes for a one-way direct flight to London – a third of the lowest price currently available. Business class to London starts at $848, one way.