Airlines cop refugee blast

AUSTRALIAN airlines are facing increasing pressure to defy orders from the Federal Government to forcibly deport unsuccessful asylum seekers.

Refugee groups released an open letter penned by prominent Australians warning involvement in deportations could damage the reputations of companies involved.

Protests outside airline offices in Sydney and Melbourne were expected yesterday. The issue shot to prominence after footage of a woman disrupting a flight carrying an asylum seeker being deported from Sweden went viral online.