" Rwanda's own state airline 'refuses to fly asylum seekers' to Kigali in blow for Rishi Sunak" 10 April 2024

RwandAir is understood to have turned down an approach by the Government to fly asylum seekers to the African nation. Insiders said bosses were worried about the damage it would do to its brand. Ministers are desperately scrabbling to bring airlines onboard. But it comes as campaigners called on travel firms not to be complicit in the "inhumane" project, which has already cost taxpayers millions of pounds without a single asylum seeker being sent. A Home Office insider told the FT: "RwandAir said no because of the potential damage to their brand." The Mirror has contacted the company for comment. Another aviation firm, AirTanker, has received thousands of messages after charity Freedom from Torture suggested it was in talks with the Home Office.

The company, which has a number of Government contracts, was bombarded after charity Freedom from Torture urged supporters to "turn up the heat". AirTanker, which ruled itself out of carrying out the first wave of planned flights in 2022, has yet to comment on its participation going forward. The charity has launched a fresh campaign urging airlines not to sign up to the controversial Rwanda project. Associate director of advocacy Natasha Tsangarides said the scheme "inhumane and deeply shameful" and said: "We’re calling on all airlines to say no to this dirty deal and not profit from refugees’ pain.

"These are men, women and children fleeing torture and other unimaginable horrors and they deserve our compassion and protection. It’s not too late for airlines to choose a different path and not be complicit in this ‘cash for humans’ deal.”