Two major airlines have objected to Kent Air Ambulance's pleas for people to donate price-fixing compensation money to air amublances across the UK.

Chief executive David Philpott wants British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which have already agreed to refund up to £73.5million to UK passengers who bought tickets when an illegal fuel surcharge was being levied, to instead donate unclaimed refunds to the charitiable service.

In America, a judge has already ordered the compensation, which work out at around £20 per person, will be donated to good causes if they are not collected, but the same has not happened in the UK.

Mr Philpott wants a tick-box option to be added on websites where customers claim their refunds, giving them the option to donate it to Association of Air Ambulances, and for the judge to rule that if compensation money remains unclaimed by the cut-off point of 2012, it will go to the air ambulances rather than back to the airlines.

The action, if successsful, will boost air ambulance coffers by £1million and 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.

"In the case of British Airways, one has to ask who is advising them, since a good news story would do them no harm right now."

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic confirmed, along with BA, it had submitted an objection to the charites’ application.

“All parties to the lawsuit have already agreed that the existing settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best interests of consumers and therefore we do not believe that the charities have a case,” the spokesman added.

A BA spokesman said customers claiming refunds were free to donate them to any charity of their choice.