Flybe fears nose-in parking costs to be passed on to airlines

AIRLINE operator Flybe is strongly opposed to a nose-in, push back parking system for aircraft because it fears the hundreds of thousands of pounds it will cost will be passed on to them.

Airport director Colin Le Ray announced last week that the system would be introduced if work to repair the runway gets the go-ahead.

The airport was designed for the parking system, which would see planes parked with their noses close to the terminal building before being towed out backwards by a tug unit, but it was never introduced because airlines were opposed.

Despite airport assurances two years ago saying that it would pay for the introduction of the parking system, Flybe general manager market development Ian Taylor (pictured) said airlines felt there was a real possibility that the recurring costs would be passed on to them.

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