§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will refer the commercial activities of British Airways' London to Newcastle route to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; if he has plans to allow more competition on the London to Newcastle air route; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyReferences to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are for my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and for the Director General of Fair Trading, as the case may be. Neither has any plans to refer British Airways' activities on the London to Newcastle route to the commission. Both British Airways and Dan-Air provide services on the route, British Airways from Heathrow and Dan-Air from Gatwick. Any operator who considers that there is a demand for further flights may apply to the Civil Aviation Authority for a licence on that route. Under Heathrow rule 3 of the traffic distribution rules 1986 further services from Heathrow would be permitted only if the user benefits were expected to override the economic and efficient use of the airport as a major international airport.