Vienna - US actress Lindsay Lohan will not attend Vienna's famous opera ball on Thursday because a shopping spree caused her to miss her flight to Europe - according to the Vienna businessman who had invited her.
The 23-year-old Hollywood actress was scheduled to be the latest star hosted by Richard Lugner, a shopping-mall owner who has added international glamour to the ball in past years by inviting Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and other celebrities.
Lugner told Austrian media that the British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London had waited for Lohan while she was shopping.
She boarded the airplane but had to leave it again because neither she nor Lugner could pay the 16,000 euros (22,000 dollars) that the carrier charged for the delay.
"She wanted to pay it, but her card's credit limit was not high enough," 77-year old Lugner said.
With Lohan's appearance cancelled, the tabloid media's attention is now set to focus on British glamour model Katie Price, who arrived Wednesday to attend the ball for the first time.
The first ball was held in the Vienna State Opera in 1877, and the event has continued to draw business magnates, politicians and artists.
However, their presence was routinely overshadowed by Lugner's guests in past years.//dpa
