HC Deb 11 March 1968 vol 760 c237W
Mr. Younger

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now allow an increase in the number of transatlantic flights from Prestwick by Scandinavian Airlines System to seven per week.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Agreement was reached with the Scandinavian Governments in 1965 that the Scandinavian Airlines System could operate through Prestwick from the summer of 1966 five frequencies a week in summer and three a week in winter. B.O.A.C., Air Canada and Pan American Airways have been increasing their transatlantic services through Prestwick, and B.O.A.C. plan to increase theirs further. S.A.S. has since November, 1966, operated fewer passenger flights than the agreement of 1965 permitted, and has recently announced that it proposes to withdraw these flights at the end of the coming summer and to confine its operations through Prestwick to freight. In these circumstances the question of increasing the number of S.A.S. flights does not arise.