AIRPORT CHIEFS TO DEFY RULING; Bosses vow to ignore council block on using new terminal building.

Byline: BEN GRIFFIN 

BOSSES launching a new no-frills service from Coventry Airport have suffered a major blow just one week before the first flights take off.

Warwick District Council says it will prevent the airline using a new temporary terminal to process the thousands of passengers booked on flights from next Wednesday - but airport bosses plan the defy the instructions and go ahead and use it.

Planners have ruled that the terminal cannot be used unless full planning permission is granted.

And they have pledged to take enforcement action if the buildings, on the Middlemarch Business Park side of the site, are used.

But Bill Savage, managing director of Coventry Airport, said: "Unless we receive advice to the contrary from our legal team we will continue to finalise the passenger facilities in order for the Thomsonfly operations to commence on March 31."

It is not clear what implications a closed terminal building would have on health and safety or security.

Campaigners fighting the expansion of the airport today welcomed Warwick District Council's stance, saying it was a "great day" in their battle against the airport.

Archie Muir of the Campaign Against the Expansion of Coventry Airport said: "It is as if a gang of yobs who have been terrorising the local community have been brought to book. We say it is disgusting the way Thomson have behaved in the past."

He said he expected TUI, which owns the airline Thomsonfly.com and took over the running of the airport earlier this year, would appeal against the decision.

But he added: "I believe they will finally stopped from using that temporary terminal building. It's an absolutely great day."

A statement from Thomsonfly.com said the airline remained "absoluely confident" that flights will start on Wednesday.

Alex Hunter, chief commercial officer for Thomsonfly, said: "We fully intend fulfilling our commitment to passengers who have booked with us and we look forward to welcoming passengers on board next Wednesday.

"We will be flying."

James Plaskitt (Lab, Warwick and Leamington) praised the actions of Warwick District Council and said: "The airport have brought this on themselves - this is what happens when you rush ahead without planning permission and try to ride roughshod over the system."

He added: "It would be a massive embarrassment to Thomsonfly if they cannot commit to the schedule. I think they will get people to the planes even if they have to use a cattle truck."

Airport bosses had claimed the buildings met regulations, but a report to go before next Wednesday's planning committee says that is not the case as the development is too big.

CAPTION(S):

HARD LINE: Coventry Airport's managing director Bill Savage, and the new temporary terminal buildings