210
GR 1400
PRIORITY
YPHER CAT A
FM FCO 141903Z.
CONFIDENTIAL
☺
CONFIDENTAL
#KK 184|1.
TO PRIORITY OTTAWA TELNO 134 OF 14 APRIL
INDEX
No
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOV AND BCARFET
UK/CANADA AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS (11-14 APRIL)
TRANSFER FROM HEATHROW TO GATWICK
1. THE FIRST DAY WAS DEVOTED TO A VISIT TO GATWICK BY BOTH TEAMS. THIS INCLUDED NOT ONLY A PRESENTATION OF THE FACILITIES AND TOUR OF THE AIRPORT WHICH HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE BRITISH AIRPORTS AUTHORITY BUT ALSO AN EXPLANATION OF THE UK POLICY AND A LONG AND FRANK DISCUSSION. IN THE COURSE OF THIS ROGERS MADE IT PLAIN THAT A. WE HAD SET OUT TO GIVE THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH OUR AIRPORT PROBLEM AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE WERE HANDLING IT BECAUSE IN DEALING WITH AIRPORT PROBLEMS IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN WHICH OUR CARRIERS HAD BEEN INVOLVED QUOTE WE HAD PREFERRED THOSE SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE HAD BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSULTATION TO THOSE IN WHICH SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY HAD NOT BEEN OFFERED UNQUOTE.
B. FOR THE REASONS WHICH WE HAD FRANKLY EXPLAINED IT WAS SENSIBLE TO TRANSFER THE UK/CANADA TRAFFIC TO GATWICK AND A PROVISIONAL DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THIS SENSE. IT WAS NOW UP TO AIR CANADA IF THEY WISHED TO PERSUADE US THAT THERE WERE GOOD REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD REMAIN AT HEATHROW.
C. OUR INTENTION WAS THAT TRAFFIC CARRIED BY BOTH BRITISH AIRWAYS AND AIR CANADA SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO GATWICK. HOWEVER, WE WOULD NOT MOVE ONE AIRLINE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
2. AT THE FINAL MEETING ON 14 APRIL (FOLLOWING LENGHTY CONSULTATIONS WITHIN THE CANADIAN DELEGATION AND PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ROGERS AND COLLINS AND LAFRENIERE (AIR CANADA), COLLINS SAID THAT THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT WISH TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND AIR CANADA ON THIS TOPIC. ROGERS SAID THAT IF AT ANY TIME THEY WISHED TO BE REPRESENTED AT ANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THEY WOULD BE WELCOME. 3. LAFRENIERE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT BACK TO CLAUDE TAYLOR (PRESIDENT
CONFIDENTAL
(OF AIR CANADA)