§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the end of the special exemption allowing noisy jets to fly into Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThere has been no "special exemption". The criteria for granting exemptions remain as set out in my answer on 19 February at columns748–50. Since then a further 17 applications have been refused and the following exemptions (which do not relate to a specific airport) granted:
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Country Operator Aircraft type and period Reasons Lebanon Middle East Airlines One B707 1 May 1988 (one flight) Compliant aircraft not available due to technical problems Kenya Kenya Airways One B707 6 May 1988 (two flights) Compliant aircraft not available due to technical problems United States of America Crown Controls Corporation One GII 11 to 14 May 1988 (one flight) Hushkit delay Lebanon Middle East Airlines One B707 14 to 15 May 1988 (one flight) Compliant aircraft not available due to technical problems United States of America Airwaves Corporation One GII 15 to 19 May 1988 (one flight) Hushkit delay United States of America Union Pacific Corporation One GII 14 to 20 May 1988 (three flights) Compliant aircraft on order A further 23 maintenance flights have also been exempted.