§ 1. Sir A. V. Harveyasked the Minister of Aviation when he anticipates the British Overseas Airways Corporation will operate a direct jet service between London, Bermuda and Trinidad.
§ The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)British Overseas Airways Corporation proposes for the present to continue to use Britannia 312s, which enables it to charge lower fares.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyThat is all very well, but does not my right hon. Friend realise that because B.O.A.C. has a monopoly service on this route, it can use equipment which is not comparable to that of other airlines, but that if another line comes on it will be compelled to put on modern jet aircraft? If my right hon. Friend wants to keep the status of B.O.A.C. as it should be, dues he not agree that this requires to be looked into?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThis is, of course, a commercial matter for B.O.A.C., and I think that the facts that it can charge lower fares and is making a profit on the line are factors which at least can be counted a little in its favour.
§ Mr. StracheyWould not the Minister, on the other hand, agree that there is not much encouragement for B.O.A.C. to open up or develop these routes if, the moment it has done so, rival British airlines are to be licensed to reap the benefit from them? Is it not true that B.O.A.C. has had very severe foreign competition on all these routes?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI do not want to be drawn into a discussion of the arrangements which Parliament decided for determining the degree of competition between the various lines.