BUDGET airline Flyglobespan has dumped its handling agents at Glasgow Airport after complaints from passengers.

The cut-price carrier claims it sacked Aviance UK after repeated errors as it handled the check-in for thousands of the airline's passengers.

The move comes days before Aviance starts a new £60million contract to check in British Airways' customers at Glasgow, as well as Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Flyglobespan has accused Aviance of: lChecking passengers in for the wrong flight.

lGiving passengers the wrong seats on the plane.

lCausing delays in passengers disembarking and collecting their luggage.

Bosses at flyglobespan said they ditched Aviance following irate letters and e-mails from passengers.

The airline, which has 20 aircraft - Scotland's biggest fleet - has almost doubled in size this year and now has more than 1000 staff.

It flies daily services from Glasgow to Boston, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, as well as Spain, Greece and the Czech Republic.

Confirming the move, Tom Dalrymple, Flyglobespan's executive chairman, said: "I am never happy for people to be checked in for the wrong flight, even if this is stopped before they get on the plane.

"I am never happy if people are seated in the wrong place on the plane or get off their plane to find their bags are not ready, especially if they have been delayed getting off the plane in the first place."

Flyglobespan has taken a 40% stake in a new service agent, Alba, that will now handle all its ground operations at Glasgow.

The airline will continue to use Aviance in Aberdeen as passengers are happy with the service there.

Keith Nicholls, the commercial manager of Aviance UK, which handles many of the world's leading airlines at Glasgow Airport, said: "Tom having a stake in Alba will mean he has more influence and we wish him well."

BA began transferring all its airport services at Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Manchester to Aviance last week and the process will continue this week.

Around 160 workers at Glasgow Airport will switch to the service provider and staff will provide check-in and handling duties on behalf of BA as part of the deal.

The switch is expected to cut BA's ground handing costs by more than 40%.

British Airways said: "We never comment on a commercial decision by another airline."