‘Delays and cancellations of three Mir Travel Company-booked flights are caused by failing to pay promptly’, Mikhail Churkanov, GD of Transglobal Airline CJSC, announced at today’s press conference.

‘According to our contract with Mir, it had to pay for the flights no later than December 22, 2005. The last payment was only made on December 28 though, and, consequently, we were unable to conduct all the negotiations needed, including those with the host companies,’ Mr Churkanov said.

‘We’ve suffered considerable losses: the exact amount is currently being specified. Yet we intend to transfer all the money that Mir had paid us for the called-off flights on their account within a few days.’