§ 18. Mr. J. Howardasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when consultations took place with the operators using Southampton Airport concerning the transfer of traffic to Hurn Airport; and what proportion of the operators were in favour of the transfer.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. John Hay)The principal operators using Eastleigh attended two meetings held by my predecessor in November, 1957, and April, 1958, to discuss the future of the airport. None of them favoured the transfer, but they accepted that if Eastleigh were not provided with a hard runway, some, if not all, of its services would have to go elsewhere, and that Hurn was the only feasible alternative.
§ Mr. HowardCan my hon. Friend tell me whether the operators mainly concerned with expressing that view were those of the nationalised airlines, such as B.F.A., or were independent operators?
§ Mr. HayThe nationalised undertaking, B.E.A., which is one of the operators, expressed that view and so did two other of the three independent operators.