§ 8. Mr. Shepherdasked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the average fares per passenger mile charged on the Atlantic and European routes, respectively.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsAverage fares can be misleading because there are so many different types of fare and lengths of journey. But typical examples of the lowest round trip excursion fares from London are 3.7d. per mile to New York or Montreal, 4.4d. to Lima and 4.5d. to Trinidad, compared with 4.9d. to Rome, 5.7d. to Geneva and 6.9d. to Paris.
§ Mr. ShepherdIn view of the fact that there is better utilisation on the European than on the trans-Atlantic routes, is there not implicit in these differentials the idea that European airways are ganging up to charge the passenger 418 more for travel in Europe than is strictly necessary?
§ Mr. JenkinsI think that fares per mile tend to be lower on the longer haul routes than on the short ones, but certainly I will bear in mind what the hon. Member said. I am sure that he recognises that fares are a matter not for me or B.E.A. but for international agreement.