LONDON — Airlines used to provide free refreshments. Now at least one wants passengers to cough up extra cash for fuel.
That's what happened to angry passengers traveling from India to Britain who found themselves stranded in Vienna by a charter airline that wanted them to kick in money for fuel.
Passengers said Comtel airline staff told them they would be stuck in Vienna until they could raise more than 20,000 pounds ($31,000) to fund the rest of the flight to Birmingham.
Footage from the plane broadcast by Channel 4 news showed cabin staff telling passengers, "you have to pay."
Reena Rindi told Channel 4 that passengers without money had to get off the plane in Vienna to get cash from ATMs.
Airport officials said Thursday that Comtel's weekend flights had been cancelled.
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