§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the normal business fares and cheapest fares available for flights between(a) London and (b) Manchester to (i) Stockholm and (ii) Moscow.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe normal business fares are as follows:
£ London-Stockholm 216 Manchester-Stockholm 275 London-Moscow 427 Manchester-Moscow 487 The cheapest fares are as follows:
Return £ London-Stockholm 189 Manchester-Stockholm 235 London-Moscow 270 Manchester-Moscow 356
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to differences in the costs of air tickets from Manchester and London to European destinations of similar distance from the two cities; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAir fares from Manchester or from any other airport reflect the costs of providing the service concerned and the effects of the degree of competition on the route served. Fares from Manchester to European destinations tend to be higher than fares from London for a similar distance because of the lower level of demand which reduces operators' opportunities for achieving economies of scale.
The best way of reducing fares all round, including those from Manchester, is through increased competition. Government policy is to remove restrictions in aviation agreements between Governments so that airlines are free to compete on fares and other aspects of their services, subject only to proper safeguards against anti-competitive behaviour. We have had considerable success in liberalisation, both bilaterally and within the European Community.