The head of Kent’s air ambulance is taking on the corporate might of Britain’s national airlines by urging them to donate price-fixing compensation to air ambulances.

David Philpott, chief executive of Marden-based Kent Air Ambulance wants British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to make the donations to air ambulances across the UK.

The two airlines have already agreed to refund up to £73.5million to UK passengers, who bought tickets between August 2004 and March 2006, when an illegal fuel surcharge was being levied.

In America a judge has already ordered that unclaimed refunds, which work out at around £20 per person, will be donated to good causes, but the same has not happened in the UK.

Mr Philpott is travelling to California next week, to make his case to the judge for the compensation in this country to go to air ambulances.

Mr Philpott wants a tick-box option to be added on websites where customers will claim their refunds, giving them the option to donate it to the Association of Air Ambulances.

They also want the judge to rule that if compensation money remains unclaimed, by the cut-off point of 2012, that it goes to the air ambulances, rather than back to the airlines.

If the action is successsful it will create a landmark legal ruling and boost air ambulance coffers by £1million, which could keep Kent Air Ambulance flying later into the night, or pay for more paramedic cover.

Mr Philpott said: "The airlines have already set this money aside to make restitution, so we find it somewhat unfortunate that they should oppose this humanitarian intervention.

The other not for profit organisaton, which could also benefit from the court case, is The British Disabled Flying Association.