Firefighter row 'is making us a laughing stock'

FLYBE will ask passengers to claim compensation direct from the States if a lack of firefighter cover grounds its aircraft.

General manager market development Ian Taylor said the airline was some £124,000 out of pocket following disruption in February and its efforts to get the money back from the States have so far been unsuccessful.

'We had to refund passengers who were unable to travel, pay for charter aircraft, passenger accommodation and taxis to get people to onward destinations and coach transfers in the UK,' he said. 'It was hugely expensive.'

Mr Taylor (pictured) said that letters pursuing compensation had been rebuffed, 'so we have taken further advice with a view to taking the matter to the Royal Court'.

He said that the airline did not want to apportion blame, but said the pay dispute almost harked back to industrial relations of the 1970s.

'To not sort it out by February was negligent but to not have it done by now is incompetence,' he said.