Flybe forced to charter due to lack of fire cover

FLYBE has had to charter a smaller aircraft to operate its flights for part of this weekend because of the threat of insufficient firefighter cover.

The ATR is smaller than that Dash 8 it uses normally and can operate with a lower level of cover.

Public Services had warned that there might not be enough cover for 24 hours from noon on Saturday for the Dash 8 to have operated.

The airline has been incensed by the way the Public Services Department has handled what looks likely to be a second weekend of disruption.

PSD warned of the difficulties with cover in a media statement yesterday afternoon and advised passengers to book a flight with another airline.

That angered Ian Taylor, Flybe's general manager market development. He said he had not been informed that there was a problem.