§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what criteria he selects(a) airlines and (b) airports for the movement of members of the armed services.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe air transport force (ATF) of the RAF meets a large proportion of the armed forces' air movements needs and is used in preference to commercial airlines for economic reasons. ATF capacity is insufficient to provide for all these requirements, however, and commercial airlines are contracted to provide regular services over a number of routes. Normal competitive tender arrangements are used to select them.
For the movement of personnel using the ATF, the RAF employs its own airfields. Where personnel move by commercial airline, the airports used are those which are most cost-effective given the start and destination points of those travelling, and the operating practices of the contractor.