HC Deb 14 January 2004 vol 416 cc742-3W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reasons for the banning of British charter airlines from operating in Kazakhstan; what representations he has made on their behalf to the Kazakh Government; and if he will make a statement. [146828]

Mr. McNulty

Until December 2003, two UK registered airlines were operating one charter service per week to Atyrau and Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan on contract to oil and gas companies active in the region.

In early December 2003 that permission was revoked. The Kazakh authorities subsequently explained that they will no longer grant permission for these services because the new Kazakh airline, Air Astana, has now started services from Uralsk and Atyrau to Western Europe.

We are concerned that permission for these flights was terminated without due process and at very short notice, with great inconvenience to passengers and to the financial detriment of UK airlines. We are also concerned that UK airlines are being denied the opportunity to offer a competing service. We will pursue this issue further with the Kazakh authorities.

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the Kazakhstan Government regarding the prevention of UK charter flights from landing in Uralsk and Atyrau. [147537]

Mr. McNulty

Until December 2003, two UK registered airlines were operating one charter service per week to Atyrau and Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan on contract to oil and gas companies active in the region.

In early December 2003 that permission was revoked. The Kazakh authorities subsequently explained that they will no longer grant permission for these services because the new Kazakh airline, Air Astana, has now started services from Uralsk and Atyrau to Western Europe.

We are concerned that permission for these flights was terminated without due process and at very short notice, with great inconvenience to passengers and to the financial detriment of UK airlines. We are also concerned that UK airlines are being denied the opportunity to offer a competing service. We will pursue this issue further with the Kazakh authorities.