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The Secretary of State for Trade.
9th April 1980
Accordingly HKG asks you to vary the decision of the CAA by licensing Cathay to fly upon the route Hong Kong/London/Hong Kong without limitation: alternatively to give a Section 4 direction to that effect. To do so would have the further advantage of curing a serious situation facing the travelling public this summer arising from BCAL's breach of their promise to ATLA to commence flying in April if licensed at both ends. In anticipation of the advent of other carriers onto the route, BA have removed some flights from their summer schedules. By August, when BCAL have announced they now intend to commence, the summer peak is past. Cathay are ready to come onto the route if licensed within a very short time and would be able to take up the anticipated shortfall in capacity in the early summer.
V.
Other Matters
1. In view of the situation likely to face the travelling public in the early summer to which we refer above, we would respectfully ask you to adjudicate upon the appeal and/or give your S.4 direction as a matter of urgency.
2. In order to satisfy the requirements of Regulation 16 copies of this letter are being sent by way of service to the Civil Aviation Authority, the London Solicitors for Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., British Caledonian Airways Ltd., Airways Ltd., and British Airways Board.
Laker
Yours faithfully,