HC Deb 20 November 1963 vol 684 cc968-9
13. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Aviation what percentage of total transatlantic: flying civilian passengers British Overseas Airways Corporation has carried in each of the past six years.

Mr. J. Amery

The Annual Report of the British Overseas Airways Corporation for 1962–63 shows the Corporation's share of the Great Britain-North America traffic in the last five years as 37.5. 39.9, 41.4. 41.8 and 37.4 per cent. respectively.

If my hon. Friend is interested in the overall Europe-North America traffic, the Corporation's share is 13.1 per cent.

Mr. Farr

I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for those details. Is there any special reason for the sharp decline in the proportion of the transatlantic traffic that B.O.A.C. has enjoyed over the past two years?

Mr. Amery

There are a number of reasons and I think that we shall be going into them shortly when we debate the B.O.A.C. White Paper and the new Borrowing Powers Bill. I think a major reason has been that the introduction of big jets on a number of services which used to stage through London means that more aircraft now fly direct between the United States and the Continent.