§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether safety standards that have to be 1003W met by an airline for a permit to be granted to operate in the airspace of each of the other EU and EEA member states are identical to those which have to be met before his Department will grant a British permit to operate in UK airspace; [149031]
(2) whether a permit issued to an airline by another member state of the EU or EEA to operate in its airspace is sufficient authorisation to operate in UK airspace. [149032]
§ Mr. McNultyAll airlines operating international services are required to have certificates showing that they meet the safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. As Contracting States to the Chicago Convention, EEA (including EU) Member States are required to recognise the certificates issued by other Contracting States to their airlines unless they have reason to believe that they have not been issued in accordance with the ICAO standards.
If another Member State has issued an operating permit to an airline we would expect that airline to meet the necessary international safety standards. However, the fact that another Member State had issued a permit would not itself provide authorisation for that airline to operate to the UK. The UK reserves the right to make its own decisions on whether or not to issue a permit. Permits may also be refused, suspended or revoked for safety or other reason, as illustrated in my answer to the hon. Member of 8 January 2004, Official Report, columns 429–30W. Other Member States may also take permit action for reasons other than safety.