The managing director of Norwich International Airport said Flybe had put on last-minute extra flights, plus offered free trips in order to meet a deadline on a commercial deal.

But a Flybe spokesman said that Norwich airport's "ridiculous, intransigent and downright greedy attitude" had forced the airline to lay on the extra flights.

Airport boss Richard Jenner said that - as part of a deal with the airport - Flybe would qualify for a fee rebate if it flew a certain number of passengers from Norwich in the financial year ending on March 31.

He said the airline was short of its quota and was making last-gasp attempts to boost numbers in order to pocket the cash.

A spokesman for the airline said: "Flybe has a commercial agreement with Norwich International Airport (NIA) to fly 70,000 passengers from the airport each year.

"We are pleased, delighted and proud to say that we have exceeded that figure. Within the agreement, Flybe had committed to fly 15,000 passengers on the Norwich to Dublin route but, as of March 29, were 172 passengers short of that target.

"Because Flybe had managed to get so close to the target, we offered the airport a one-off payment of £50,000 (more than 20% of the financial payment). Much to our disappointment, this offer was turned down by NIA who demanded £140,000.

"Flybe is not prepared in this time of high fuel prices to put Flybe jobs and services to Norwich at risk and therefore, with regret, has taken the unusual step of putting on two extra flights on Monday March 31 to meet the demands of Norwich International Airport .

"These flights will be full of normal fare-paying passengers however if we do not reach the 172 target we will place temporary staff on to the flight to reach the airport's target. Flybe will 100% offset the carbon caused by this flight."