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IN THIS IDEA, HE RESTATED SINGAPORE'S INTEREST IN RETAINING "'SIXTH FREEDO RIGHTS''. HE ASKED WHETHER THE CHANCE OF GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN WOULD ALTER OUR ATTITUDE TO ICAP. ROBERTS REPLIED THAT THE PRESENT BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD SUPPORT THE BENEFITS WHICH ICAP COULD BRING TO THE CONSUMER, AND THAT WE HAD NO REASON TO EXPECT ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR APPROACH. THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT WOULD IN ANY CASE SHORTLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE RESPONSIBLE BRITISH MINISTER, MR NORAR TEBRIT, WHEN HE VISITED SINGAPORE IN 10 DAYS TIME.
4. IN FURTHER DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING MAIN POINTS AROSE:
WE SAID THAT WE A. CHEAP FARES BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND LONDON: WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEW CHEAP FARES BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND LONDON BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF A RATIONALISATION OF CHEAP FARES BEWTEEN LONDON AND ALL SOUTH EAST ASIAN POINTS. BA AND THE ASEAN AIRLINES SHOULD RESUME THE DISCUSSIONS STARTED IN MAY. SIM (LIKE THE CHAIR MAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES WHOM WE MET LATER IN THE DAY) WAS INTERESTED IN CHEAP FARES BETWEEN LONDON AND SINGAPORE, BUT LESS SO IN THE RATIONALISATION OF FARES TO ASEAN POINTS IN GENERAL.
3. WINTER SCHEDULES: WE TOLD BOTH SIM AND SIA THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE WINTER SCHEDULES RECENTLY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE IN LONDON, ROBERTS WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF CAIR
DOT WOULD NOW GIVE APPROVAL TO THE SCHEDULE SET OUT IN THE SIA LETTER OF 1 OCTOBER. SIM SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM ABOUT THE WINTER FILING SUBMITTED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS.
C. FORM OF AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: ROBERTS TOLD BOTH SIM AND PILLAY (CHAIRMAN, SIA) THAT WE PROPOSED TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS IN FUTURE WITH THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT AND NOT WITH SIA. BOTH
WERE CONTENT.
D. FIFTH FREEDOMS: WE OUTLINED THE PROPOSAL, DISCUSSED BY THE AUSTRALIANS WITH THE DOT TEAM IN CANBERRA EARLIER IN THE WEEK, FOR THE RETENTION OF 5TH FREEDOM RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF NORMAL FIRST AND ECONOMIC FARES, BUT NOT OF CHEAP END-TO-END FARES. IN THIS CONTEXT WE RECORDED OUR POTENTIAL INTEREST IN EXERCISING THE RIGHTS WE ALREADY HAVE FROM SINGAPORE TO SERVE PERTH BEYOND SINGAPORE ON ROUTE 2. THE SINGAPORE RESPONSE NAS TO SAY THAT THEY HAD NO OBJECTION TO THE RETENTION OF 5TH FREEDOM RIGHTS IN
GENERAL.
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