§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what seat losses are incurred by aircraft using Gibraltar due to airfield limitations; what are the total landing fees for the Trident II, BAC 1–11, Vanguard and Viscount aircraft, and how they compare with those of Malaga, Tangier and Marrakesh.]
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, there are normally no payload restrictions on flights to Gibraltar from the United Kingdom by any of the aircraft currently used on the route. In respect of flights from Gibraltar to the United Kingdom, under average summer conditions, the potential seat losses per flight due to runway limitations at Gibraltar are as follows: Trident II—10 seats; BAC 1–11 (500 series)—40 seats; the Vanguard and Viscount aircraft are not generally subject to seat losses. As regards landing fees, the total charges per landing levied by the Ministry of Defence at Gibraltar airport on Trident II, BAC 1–11, Vanguard and Viscount aircraft respectively are as follows: £90.62, £59.23, £88.70 and £39.37.For 911 Malaga the comparable figures are understood to be approximately £25.35, £17.00, £24.96 and £11.40. The charges at Tangier and Marakesh are understood, in respect of day landings, to be approximately £44.05, £29.95, £43.25 and £14.40.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for all those details, which I shall have to study. But will my noble friend not agree that in effect the landing fees in Gibraltar are considerably higher than in the other towns he has mentioned, namely, Malaga, Tangier and Marrakesh, and could he say what justification there is, due to Spanish restrictions in Gibraltar, for having these higher landing fees? Also may I ask my noble friend to consider this point? In view of the seat losses and the limits imposed on certain types of aircraft—for instance, the Trident III cannot land, and the BAC 1–11 has a limitation of 40 seats less when taking off from Gibraltar—can my noble friend say whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans for extending the runway? Have they considered, for instance, the Halcrow Partners scheme, which extends the runway to the East?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, in answer to my noble friend's first question, the charges at Gibraltar are levied by the Ministry of Defence and are broadly related to the services provided. The basis on which the Spanish and Morroccan Governments charge airlines for using the facilities at airports in their countries are a matter entirely within their discretion. International comparisons of aircraft charges are not usually accurate because of differences in what is covered in the charges. For instance, at Malaga, Tangier and Marrakesh passengers pay a charge for the use of airport terminal facilities, whereas passengers embarking at Gibraltar pay no such charge. If we take these charges into account in relation to the amount that each airport receives for each landing it will be found that they are not nearly so much higher at Gibraltar than they are at the other airports mentioned.
My noble friend also asked me whether Her Majesty's Government had considered extending the runway so that there would be no seat loss. My information is that the runway could only 912 be extended out from the land. In order to make this worth while it would have to be extended for an additional 2,000 ft., and I am advised that the cost of this would be very expensive indeed.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that reply, but I believe there are plans to extend the runway to the East and to the West. I agree that the question of cost is highly relevant. May I ask my noble friend to bear in mind that there is grave disquiet in Gibraltar within the Government and the Opposition regarding this whole question of fares and air traffic? Would be bear in mind that there is a feeling in Gibraltar of lack of representation and lack of consultation between the British Government and the Gibraltar Government?
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I will certainly bear in mind what my noble friend has said, and of course my right honourable friend will look into it, too. To put the matter into perspective, I would say that no representations have been received from air lines operating between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on the subject of landing charges at Gibraltar. If such representations are received, they will, of course, be considered.