§ Mr. H. Clarkasked the Minister of Aviation why passengers with international through bookings are carried by British European Airways and British Eagle International, respectively, between Belfast and London at charges which are not set out in their domestic licences, as required by the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, 1960.
§ Mr. MartenI do not accept that such passengers are carried at tariffs other than those set out by the Air Transport Licensing Board in the relevant licences.
§ Mr. H. Clarkasked the Minister of Aviation who approves the amounts received by British European Airways and British Eagle International, respectively, in respect of travel between Belfast and London by passengers with international through bookings; and what is the machinery whereby such amounts are officially notified to the Board for the purpose of their statutory duties in relation to domestic tariffs.
§ Mr. MartenMy right hon. Friend approves international fares and the Air Transport Licensing Board determines domestic fares.
As regards through international bookings entailing domestic carriage, it is the duty of the airline to ensure that the fare paid by the passenger conforms to the relevant tariffs.
Once the correct fare has been paid, its allocation between domestic and other sectors is a matter for the internal accounting arrangements of the airline concerned, or if carriage is undertaken by more than one airline, a matter for commercial agreement between them.
My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Board has adequate powers under 217W Regulations 9 and 18 of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Regulations, 1960, as amended to obtain information and documents relating to these accounting and commercial arrangements.
§ Mr. H. Clarkasked the Minister of Aviation what number of passengers between Belfast and London have been carried at international through fares, including inclusive tours in each of the last five years, and in the months of May to August in particular.
§ Mr. MartenThe following numbers of passengers, carried by B.E.A. between Belfast and London in each of the last five financial years, were travelling on international through fares.
Year ending 31st March May-Aug. only 1959–60 … … 12,555 6,132 1960–61 … … 17,075 7,728 1961–62 … … 17,598 9,718 1962–63 … … 19,212 8,970 1963–64 … … 26,519 13,711 The corresponding figures for British Eagle International Airlines Ltd., which commenced operations on this route in October, 1963, are not readily available but the number is small.