Hundreds of Liverpool fans have been left without flights to Kiev after travel company World Choice Sports released a statement announcing that they have had to cancel three of their flights to Kiev from John Lennon airport:
Dear customers,
With deep regret, we have had to cancel three flights to Kiev. Due to so many flights going into Kiev, Kiev Borispyl has unable to allocate times for aircraft.
We have worked extremely hard over the last 48 hours trying to resolve these issues. We have had Liverpool football club, Police, UEFA and everyone at the highest levels of authority trying to resolve this.
We have exhausted all avenues to try and get landing slots. We have had them from Liverpool airport and Manchester airport and we have applied for slots in the correct manner and time frame with the authorities. To reiterate this problem IS with Kiev.
At this stage we can only make a huge apology and are very sorry let you down on this occasion.
We will be processing full refunds of monies paid as soon as possible, starting tomorrow. If you have booked online, this will be refunded to the same payment method. If you have paid by cash, we will issue a cheque.
Fans had booked £950 deals with the travel company, but have now been left in the lurch ahead of Saturday's showpiece in Kiev:
My 18 year old son's flight to Kiev just been cancelled by World Choice Sports. He is devastated. Anyone got a seat on a private plane?! @LFC @TonyBarrett @PeterMooreLFC @JHenderson @Carra23
— Raf B (@rafjb69) May 24, 2018
@PeterMooreLFC still no flight times confirmed through World Choice Sports. Have heard you are working with them. Do we have any news? Have ticket and accommodation but maybe no flights????
— Mike Mander (@ynwa2808) May 24, 2018
World choice sports are a shambles
— Owen birtles (@owenbirtles98) May 24, 2018
Horrible from World Choice Sports that!
— Michael Greensmith ?? (@MichaelJames95) May 24, 2018
World choice sports have just cancelled my flight to Kiev, 2 days before the final and now there’s no alternatives. What a piss take that is.
— Matty Boyes (@Matty_Boyes16) May 24, 2018
Liverpool football club have also released a statement following the cancellations:
Liverpool Football Club is continuing to work with all of the relevant stakeholders in the UK and Ukraine in an attempt to resolve a situation which has left around 1,000 fans without flights to Kiev for the Champions League final.
Flights chartered by World Choice Sports had been set to take supporters to Ukraine, but a dispute between the Widnes-based travel company and the aviation authorities in Kiev over the size of the aircraft has led to the trips being cancelled.
Along with officials from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Liverpool City Council, UEFA and the authorities in Kiev, LFC has been endeavouring to resolve the issue since it first came to light and will continue to do so until all avenues have been exhausted.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has also tweeted that he is working with former boxer and politician Vitaly Klitschko in order to arrange a solution for the fans left affected by the cancellations:
Working closely with @Vitaliy_Klychko to get the Kiev flights sorted - thank you for your help & support. Close to solution now and more details will follow soon.
— Joe Anderson (@mayor_anderson) May 24, 2018
