BA charge £600 for Paris flight

British Airways was today accused of cashing in on the Channel Tunnel fire misery by offering desperate passengers £600 fares between Paris and London.

With Eurostar trains between the two cities reduced to a token service after last week's blaze, major airlines are enjoying a big increase in business on the highly profitable 200-mile route.

But rather than reducing fares to a level occasional travellers can afford, BA and competitors such as Air France are advertising high prices. While BA claims its fares are usual for those booking for a late seat, passenger groups accused it of "acting like highwaymen".

Jean-Claude Delarue, spokesman for France's influential Federation of Transport Users, said: "It's an absolute scandal. The Channel Tunnel fire has caused huge problems to thousands and airlines should be responding by offering cheap and convenient alternatives. Instead they are cashing in. They're even layingon bigger planes to maximise profits. People-need to get across the Channel, yet airlines are pouncing on them like highwaymen."

Nabila Ramdani, 30, who regularly commutes between Paris and London by train, said: "A fairly priced alternative is an absolute necessity. Surely if airlines are getting all this extra business it might be an idea to reduce prices to figures which ordinary people can actually afford?"

A BA spokesman said: "People booking at the last minute will of course find prices higher. There is no question of us cashing in."

He added: "We are actually increasing capacity on our flights to Paris by putting on larger aircraft to meet the increased demand from travellers who cannot now travel by Eurostar.

The £600 fare quoted is for a business seat in Club Europe because all the cheaper seats have been sold. We have categorically not increased our fares and we are not cashing in."