Jet2 and airport in court again
09.11.10
The row between Blackpool Airport and budget airline Jet2 over late night flights has been laid out in the High Court, the Gazette reports. The airline was granted a temporary injunction earlier this month forcing the airport to remain open after 21:00. They returned to the High Court yesterday to attempt to get the injunction extended indefinitely.
Philip Shepherd QC, for Jet2, told the court the relationship between the airline and airport had been strained since Ryanair quit the hub in early 2005, after it imposed a £10 airport development fee on passengers flying out. He told the judge: ‘Far from using their best endeavours to promote Jet2's services, as they had contracted to do, the defendant was now doing the opposite.'
‘The defendant knew that limiting operating hours to 07:00 - 21:00 would lead to two flights being diverted to Manchester over the weekend of October 30 and 31. The 300-plus passengers – mostly families with children returning from half term – had to be taken by bus back to Blackpool in the middle of the night, leaving Jet2 to field complaints of tired and angry passengers.’
Michael Crane QC, for the airport, said his client is currently losing £2.5m a year, compared with Jet2's pre-tax profits of £30m. He argued the agreement had been drawn up on the assumption that Jet2 would increase its flights to and from the airport, but its failure to do so meant the airport could no longer afford to employ staff to work late at night.
Mr Justice Beatson delayed judgement, meaning the airline will have to wait at least another week to find out if it can stick to its schedule or must continue to open after 21:00.
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