Passengers Forced To Pay Airline's Fuel Bill

Hundreds of passengers hoping to travel to Britain have been left stranded in India just days after a cash-strapped airline asked travellers to pay £20,000 to cover fuel costs.

Around 180 people flying from Amritsar to Birmingham with Comtel Air were stranded at a layover in Vienna on Tuesday until they could raise the thousands of pounds needed to fund the final leg of the flight.

Footage broadcast on Channel 4 showed a member of the cabin crew telling passengers: "We need some money to pay the fuel, to pay the airport, to pay everything we need. If you want to go to Birmingham, you have to pay."

Passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft to get cash out of machines inside Vienna's terminal.

"We all got together, took our money out of purses - £130," said Reena Rindi, who was aboard with her two-year-old daughter.

"Children under two went free, my little one went free cause she's under two. If we didn't have the money, they were making us go one by one outside, in Vienna, to get the cash out."

After a long delay, the plane then took off and arrived in Birmingham.

The Austrian-registered airline's director of passenger services Bhunpinder Kandra said: "I have heard what happened, it shouldn't have happened, and I will investigate why it happened.

"The people who had to pay the money will receive a refund."

Asked if the company was going bust, he said: "There is no chance of that. Comtel is a very strong company, 16 years in Vienna."

Now, it is believed passengers stranded in Amritsar have been told they will not be allowed to leave for Britain unless they pay 10,000 rupees (£125) each.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware that a number of British nationals have been affected by difficulties with Comtel airlines flights from Amritsar to Birmingham via Vienna.

"We have been, and remain, in touch with the relevant authorities including the airline for clarification on how British nationals due to fly in the coming days will be affected."

A statement on Birmingham Airport's website said flights between Birmingham and Amritsar for the coming weekend are cancelled and passengers should check with their travel company.

It said: "We expect the airline to clarify the situation regarding its flight programme going forward within the next few days.

"Comtel Air has been operating from Birmingham Airport to Amritsar since October, and has so far offered a successful operation to several hundred passengers.

"Clearly, we are very concerned about this situation and understand the distress that this is causing those passengers directly involved and their loved ones.

"We stress that we are very disappointed that the operator is having these problems this week and we working hard to provide some clarity going forward."

:: Cancelled Comtel Flights:

:: Friday, November 18:
COE732, Birmingham-Amritsar STD 16:15.

:: Saturday, November 19:
COE702C, Amritsar–Birmingham STD 04:30

COE732, Birmingham-Amritsar STD 18:15

:: Sunday November 20:
COE702C, Amritsar-Birmingham STD 05:30

 http://news.sky.com