Sunvil boss Noel Josephides has relinquished his proposed role as non-executive chairman of Viking Airlines following the carrier's decision not to apply for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in the UK.

Viking already holds AOC's in Sweden and Greece and as a new air service agreement between the EU and Turkey will allow airlines licensed in any EU country to fly to Turkey and Egypt from anywhere in the EU, the carrier will no longer need a UK licence.

A statement from the company said: "Following this anticipated change in legislation, Noel Josephides’ proposed role as non-executive chairman of Viking UK will not be implemented as the licence application and full UK operational structure will not now be required."

Josephides added:  “I am glad that my help so far has enabled Viking to take advantage of the developing legislation in order to save considerable overhead costs and, in all honesty, it makes sense for me to have one fewer chairmanship to manage! 

"My own tour operating company, Sunvil Holidays, remains firmly committed to flying with Viking."

By Linsey McNeill