Major airline refuses to help with forcible removal of immigrants

XL airways refuse to carry deportees

• Posted on Oct 9, 2007

1. September - XL Airways announced it would not charter anymore of its' planes to the Home Office to carry deportees.
2. Friday 5th October - The Independent front-page reveals the extent of assaults during deportations.
3. Monday 8th October - In an article today, "Major airline refuses to help with forcible removal of immigrants" The Independent prints a Home Office statement that airlines can opt out of flying deportees if they choose to do so.

Extracts of the Independent article: Home Office, refusing to disclose details about deportation flights; "If we were to disclose the information you have requested, this would prejudice the number of airlines willing to contract with the agency on charter operations and could drive up the cost of such operations. In addition, the release of information could damage commercially those airlines who offer this service."

XL Airways; "... we operated one flight in February to DR Congo as part of this contract, without full understanding of the political dimensions involved. Our chief executive [Phillip Wyatt] had made it quite clear to all concerned that we will not be operating any further flights of this nature ... We are not neutral on the issue and have sympathy for all dispossessed persons in the world, hence our stance."

British Airways said they were under a legal obligation to return failed asylum-seekers "It is UK law and we comply with it - it's like asking whether we are happy paying income tax."

Home Office said that deportation flights are only contracted with willing airlines "The agency uses agents/brokers to arrange both charter and scheduled removals. Airline captains have the right to refuse carriage of a passenger and will do so if they feel appropriate for security or commercial reasons."

Full story: Major airline refuses to help with forcible removal of immigrants http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article3038391.ece

^ top of page ^