§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in reviewing the United States of America-United Kingdom bilateral air394W agreement; whether he will consider negotiating future agreements with the United States of America on a European basis; and what steps he is taking to ensure that more transatlantic services are made available from airports other than Heathrow and Gatwick.
§ Mr. NorrisDiscussions with the US Government are continuing about the possibilities for the liberalisation of transatlantic air services. Our aim is to remove obstacles to fair competition between airlines, and to remove unnecessary regulation.
There may ultimately be a role for the European Community in aviation negotiations with third countries. Once the single market in aviation is established and we get used to operating in and from it, a clearer need for collective negotiations may develop. It will be important not to prejudice the present tried and tested bilateral relationships by attempting to negotiate prematurely at Community level.
Making more transatlantic services available to airports other than Heathrow and Gatwick is something we have in mind as we pursue our negotiations with the Americans. The last round of discussions covered the possibilities for opening up additional opportunities for both sides, including new routes, without going into the detail of specific services.