By Steven Bell

THE BOSS of FlyWhoosh is being challenged to outline what future the airline may have in Dundee at a public meeting.

Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce said Aden Murcutt should also take the opportunity to explain how the passenger refund process can be speeded up.

The airline grounded its services to Belfast and Birmingham last month, leaving around 2500 people out-of-pocket and sparking angry exchanges between passengers and Mr Murcutt.

He has since revealed there is a “massive international lawsuit” ongoing, and that every effort is being made to get customers their money back.

He claimed the airline has “full support from the business community in Dundee, and the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce—who are all keen to see us come back to Dundee to provide a service.”

However, in a letter to The Courier, president of the chamber Gary Langlands described the way customers have been treated since services were cancelled as “unacceptable.”

“I want to make it clear that we are not in support of many of the comments which Mr Murcutt is reported to have made,” he said.

“We take a dim view of any businesses—whether they are chamber members or not—failing to exercise their best endeavours to comply with good business practice.”

Mr Langlands said the launch of direct flights between Dundee and Birmingham and Belfast had been welcomed by the business community.

FlyWhoosh announced it would be starting services from Dundee in a blaze of publicity last April, but began cancelling flights at the start of December when its only aircraft broke down.

The aircraft was shortly thereafter taken out of commission, and there have been no flights since.

The Polish company that provided the plane and crew, White Eagle Aviation, ended its business relationship with FlyWhoosh.

Customers were left confused by conflicting reports about where responsibility for refunds lay.

Mr Langlands said, “We would strenuously encourage Mr Murcutt and his team to address their customer and supplier obligations, particularly if there is any real chance that FlyWhoosh is to take to the skies again out of Dundee.

“I would like to invite Mr Murcutt to attend a public meeting to explain to potential and past passengers what the intentions of FlyWhoosh are in regard to Dundee, and how the refunds due can be expedited.

“I would also offer to chair a meeting with local suppliers to resolve how outstanding obligations may be discharged.”

The chances of Mr Murcutt setting up business in the city any time soon appear slim as he is having difficulty securing the new aircraft he needs.

He said most of the owners of the US$4-5 million (£2-2.5 million) second-hand planes he is seeking for the new venture will be booked up for at least a year.

Despite this setback, he said he was sure he would be able to provide another service to Dundee sooner rather than later.