§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking, in view of the impending deadline for the relevant applications, to ensure that British airlines fly to Riyadh; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Civil Aviation Authority has granted British Caledonian a licence to operate scheduled services between London and Riyadh. It has rejected a similar application by British Airways which has appealed to my right hon. Friend against the authority's decision.
477WRepresentatives of the British and Saudi Arabian aeronautical authorities will be meeting in Jeddah later this month. I hope that it will then be possible to agree that a British airline should be entitled to operate services between London and Riyadh. I hope also that we shall be able to reach agreement without prejudice to the appeal that until it has been completed British Caledonian should be able to operate scheduled services to Riyadh.