American Airlines (AA) planes have been barred from landing at Mariscal Sucre international airport in a row over fees, AA sales manager Paterson Duncan said on Monday.

Bosses at the airport, managed by the Quiport Consortium, said they had stopped AA flights after the company failed to pay its fees.

But AA denied the accusation, saying it was only protesting against a charge increase, alongside other members of the Airlines Association.

Duncan accused the airport of retaliating against AA's protest.

From Sunday night, AA had to land its planes at a terminal belonging to a nearby military base, and ferry passengers by bus to the main airport.

The airline had also been banned from using the conveyer belts for luggage, but according to Duncan, on Monday Quiport relented on this condition due to the presence of reporters.

Quiport raised fees for both airlines and passengers about three months ago. The Airlines Association has challenged the fee increase, and airliners are currently paying the old fee until the case is settled.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2006)