Fifth Freedom Cargo Charters (Hansard, 4 February 1997)

§ Mr. Gale
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds his Department upheld an objection570W by Air Atlantic to a flight by a British cargo airline, for the transport of film equipment from Luton to Rhodes on 22 January; what assessment he has made of the economic impact of this decision; and if he will make a statement. [13764]

§ Mr. Bowis
The objection by Air Atlantic, a British carrier, to a fifth freedom flight by a foreign carrier, Air Sofia, was upheld on the basis that Air Atlantic had available suitable aircraft to undertake the flight in question. This is in accordance with the Department of Transport's procedures, which have been widely circulated to the airline industry, for considering applications for fifth freedom cargo charters. No specific assessment of the effect of this decision has been made.
British carriers cannot object to cargo flights by other British carriers. In this case, I understand that another British carrier was simply acting as the sales agent of the foreign carrier concerned.

§ Mr. Gale
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds his Department upheld an objection by Air Atlantic to an Air Sofia flight from East Midlands airport to Madrid carrying automotive parts on 23 to 24 January; what factors led to the subsequent cancellation of the flight; what assessment he has made of the economic impact of this decision; and if he will make a statement. [13765]

§ Mr. Bowis
The objection by Air Atlantic, a British carrier, was upheld on the basis that it had suitable aircraft available to undertake the flight in question. Because Air Sofia's application was made less than five working days before the flight in question, my Department's normal requirement that a UK carrier match the price offered by the foreign carrier did not apply. This is in accordance with my Department's procedures, which have been widely circulated to the airline industry, for considering applications for fifth freedom cargo charters. No specific assessment of the effect of this decision has been made.

§ Mr. Gale
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to prevent abuses of the fifth freedom policy. [13766]

§ Mr. Bowis
My Department has established clear procedures for handling applications for both passenger and cargo charter flights operated on a "fifth freedom" basis, and these have been widely disseminated within the UK and to foreign carriers and their representatives. My officials will investigate any cases where it is alleged that these procedures are being abused.