Airline hired for UK’s Rwanda deportations pulls out of scheme

A charter airline that was hired to take people seeking refuge in the UK to Rwanda has pulled out of the project after being pressured by campaign groups.

The European court of human rights ruled that Privilege Style's plane could not fly asylum seekers to the east African country.

For its willingness to conduct deportation flights that other airlines refused, the Mallorca-based carrier became known as the UK government's "airline of last resort"

Privilege Style will no longer operate flights to Rwanda after a campaign by torture survivors and refugee groups.

The UK government will have a problem. Two charter airlines that previously conducted deportation flights have ruled themselves out of the scheme.

Privilege Style wrote a letter to the charity Freedom from Torture and said it wouldn't operate flights to Rwanda in the future. The one flight scheduled for June 2022, which is the reason for this controversy, was suspended.

In order to find a solution to a growing number of refugees entering the UK via small boats in the Channel, the UK signed a £120 million deal with the Rwanda government.

The deal made it possible for people who arrived in the UK by boat to be flown to Africa.

It was criticized by human rights groups because of the fact that it is an authoritarian state that frequently imprisons, tortures and murders political opponents.

There was an increase in public protests against it. Activists from Freedom from Torture presented the firm with the "worst airline of the year" award at the carrier's headquarters in Palma.

Several Spanish companies and top Spanish football clubs are among the customers of the carrier's top tier.

The campaign held banners outside of the Real Madrid v Barcelona match in Madrid that said "Don't fly with Privilege Style while they profit from refugees' pain."

Legal challenges in the high court have prevented flights from leaving yet.

Seven asylum seekers were due to be taken from a military airport in Wiltshire on a Privilege Style Boeing 757. It took tourists from Spain to Dsseldorf.

The flight was canceled at the last minute after the European court ruled against it.

The outgoing prime minister promised to keep the scheme going. The deportations are expected to be supported by candidates who are considering running to be prime minister.

A review by the charity Medical Justice found that many asylum seekers may have been tortured or tricked into going to the UK.

"This is a victory for people power, for thousands who took action and for the torture survivors who stood up against the UK government's cruel 'cash for humans' scheme."

The UK gave me sanctuary when I fled persecution in central Africa. It breaks my heart to see the government turn their backs on people like me, and that private companies are making money off of their suffering.

If you try and cash in on the pain of refugees, you will be held to account according toPrivilege Style.

Those who come to the UK through dangerous, illegal and unnecessary routes will be given the chance to rebuild their lives in Rwanda.

Rwanda is a safe and secure country with a strong track record of supporting asylum seekers. We don't say anything about operational matters.