§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport what actions have been taken by his Department to limit the number of flights by People Express airline across the Atlantic; how many flights by People Express he currently permits; and what refusals he, or his predecessor, have given to which other airlines wishing to increase their number of flights across the Atlantic since June 1979.
§ Mr. David MitchellNeither my Department nor the Department of Trade and Industry, which previously held responsibility for international aviation matters, has taken unilateral action to restrict the number of flights allowed to People. Express Airlines. The capacity to be operated by United Kingdom and United States airlines across the Atlantic is determined in consultation with the United States authorities in advance of each operating season in accordance with the principles and procedures laid down in the Bermuda 2 air services agreement. This process does not lend itself to identifying refusals by one side or the other, but it is not uncommon for the initial proposals made by the airlines in these discussions to be scaled down by agreement.
So far as People Express is concerned, it is currently entitled to operate five services per week in each direction between Newark and Gatwick. This summer it will be entitled to operate seven services a week, and provision has been made for further increases in 1985 and 1986.