Airline warning over sky marshals

Thomas Cook Airlines operates flights to the United States

Holiday airline Thomas Cook says it will ground any flights on which sky marshals are placed.

The airline, which operates daily services from Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow and Gatwick, says it wants to see its captains remain in control of aircraft.

The company's decision follows continuing security fears surrounding flights to the United States.

A British Airways flight to Washington DC has been delayed three times because of a terrorist alert.

The carrier, formerly known as JMC, whose destinations include the Florida resorts of Orlando and Miami, is due to meet government officials on Tuesday over the issue of sky marshals.

'Full control'

The pilots' union Balpa has called for an all-embracing agreement on the use of marshals.

Thomas Cook Airlines, which also flies within US airspace while operating to the Caribbean, says it has had its own talks with Balpa, which has been angered by the American authorities' insistence on the use of sky marshals on some transatlantic flights.

A Thomas Cook Airlines' spokesman said: "For the time being, if a sky marshal presents himself, we will cancel the flight.

"Like Balpa, we want to see captains remain in full control of the aircraft at all times."

The holiday carrier has recently expanded its operation at Newcastle Airport, with two aircraft now based full-time on Tyneside.

A Balpa spokesman said on Monday: "We want an over-arching agreement with the government covering the use of air marshals on all airlines."