§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will formalise the agreement with the United States Government giving additional flights between the United Kingdom and the United States of Amercia; when he expects to announce the two new routes between United Kingdom regional airports and United States airports arising from this agreement; and how many routes now exist between the United States and United Kingdom airports, broken down by United Kingdom airports.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAdministrative arrangements are expected to be completed within the next few days to bring the new agreement into immediate effect. Formal processes will be concluded at a convenient time thereafter. One of the new route opportunities created for the United States will be used to provide cover for the existing service by American Airlines between Chicago and Manchester, which at present operates informally. The two other new route opportunities available to the United States and the two new opportunities for the United Kingdom will be allocated by the authorities of the two countries following applications by interested carriers. This process depends upon decisions initially to be made by carriers according to their commercial judgment. No timetable therefore applies.
Existing routes between the United Kingdom and the continental United States are as follows. Services are not operated on all routes.
Between London and Prestwick/Glasgow andAnchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Cincinnati, Washington/Baltimore, Charlotte, Tampa, San Diego and Orlando.Between Manchester andAtlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington/Baltimore, Tampa, San Diego, Newark and Orlando.The new agreement will allow two services by the United States, in addition to the existing Chicago—Manchester service, and two by the United Kingdom using any regional airport, including Manchester.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received from the embassy in Washington concerning the anti-competitive nature of hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy Department regularly receives from the British embassy in Washington material concerning airline operations in the United States.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts his officials have had with United States Department of Justice officials investigating hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.
§ Mr. McLoughlinNone.