Air marshals row deepens
The battle lines are being drawn over whether airlines should employ ?sky marshals? on flights, following news that British Airways flight 223 from London to Washington was once again delayed yesterday. There appear to be tensions between US authorities, pilot unions and airlines over demands that sky marshals should be on some flights to the United States, with the pilots? union Balpa (British Airline Pilots Association) due to meet the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to discuss the matter today. According to a report in The Times, Balpa does not want sky marshals on flights unless the captain of the flights knows who and where they are, and has the opportunity to talk to them before take-off. Furthermore, the union appears to believe that flight BA223 is being used as a ?political pawn?, being constantly delayed because British Airways is reluctant to carry marshals. The Times quotes Alistair Darling as saying this theory is ?absolute rubbish?, and that the flight delays were ?the only thing that was safe to do?. Meanwhile, Thomas Cook has also stepped into the fray, stating that it will refuse to operate any flights if it is forced to employ sky marshals. A spokesman said: “Europe’s largest leisure airline has not changed its policy that if presented with a sky marshal on any of our routes, the flight would be cancelled. “The airline is actively in discussion with the UK Government on the protocols of carrying sky marshals, together with Balpa. Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) fully supports Balpa in their protocol for the deployment of sky marshals on British aircraft.” According to The Guardian newspaper, British Airways is believed to be ?similarly sceptical? over the use of marshals and has stated that it will not operate any flight where there was thought to be a security threat.
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