Passengers asked to pay cash for fuel
Air France admitted today it was forced to ask passengers to pay for fuel on a Beirut-bound flight that had to be diverted to Syria.
However, in the end it was able to pay to fill up at Damascus airport without passengers having to cough up.
In a statement released to CNN it said: "Air France confirms that it asked passengers if they had cash, as payments for fuel can only be made in cash in Damascus.
"Ultimately, Air France could pay the full amount itself, and passengers did not have to advance any cash"
The incident occurred on Wednesday on a flight from Paris to Beirut.
The plane was scheduled to divert to Jordan because of security concerns, but when it couldn’t get a flight path to Amman crew decided to land in Damascus.
It was during the two-hour stopover in the Syrian capital that passengers were asked for cash for fuel.
After Air France sorted out the payment, the flight continued to Cyprus and then onto Beirut yesterday.
"Air France apologizes to its customers for the inconvenience," the airline said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements