§ Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Aviation what is the landing fee for a British European Airways Comet and a British Overseas Airways Corporation's Comet, respectively; and why there is a difference.
§ Mr. AmeryThe landing fee for a Comet is £59, irrespective of ownership, with slight variations for different marks. In addition, all aircraft on intercontinental flights pay a surcharge of approximately 100 per cent. Normally British Overseas Airways Corporation's flights—but very few of British European Airways—are intercontinental and,224W including the surcharge, pay £116. The surcharge, which reflects the higher earning capacity of aircraft employed on longer hauls, was increased to its present level of 100 per cent. in 1952. I am now proposing to reduce it to 66⅔ per cent.