§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why he prohibited Pan-American Airways from landing as many aeroplanes as they wish in this country, and from charging what fares they think it.
Mr. Ivor ThomasIt is a cardinal feature of the policy of His Majesty's Government in the matter of international air transport that there should be inter-Governmental approval of the capacity to be operated and the fares to be charged on any particular route. Pending the negotiation of a formal bilateral agreement with the United States of America, His Majesty's Government have intimated that they were prepared to allow United States airlines, authorised by the Civil586W Aeronautics Board to operate to the United Kingdom, to come to this country on an approved number of frequencies and on the understanding that the fares to be charged were approved by His Majesty's Government. The company referred to by the hon. Member declared their intention to operate at a fare which had not been the subject of prior consultation or agreement. An assurance was, therefore, sought that United States air carriers would conform with international practice and not seek to increase their frequences before they had obtained the necessary permission of the country to which they desired to operate.