LAKER AIRWAYS LIMITED
Mr. Cranley-Onslow M.P. The House of Commons The Houses of Parliament London S.W.1
GATWICK AIRPORT – LONDON
HORLEY, SURREY
01-668 9363
CRAWLEY 31222
TELEX 87307
CABLES: AIRLAKER GATWICK
14TH March 1980
Dear Mr. Cranley-Onslow:
I have seen a recent amendment put down by your goodself and Mr. McCrindle and Mr. Trotter to the Civil Aviation Bill providing for a new Section 24A to the Civil Aviation Act 1971, proposing that certain airlines based in relevant overseas territories or associated states should under certain circumstances be considered within a 1971 Act definition as being British airlines, thus enjoying conse- quential benefits. The airline I presume that this Amendment was intended to cover is Cathay Pacific Airways, a British owned airline, based in relevant overseas territory, Hong Kong.
First of all, I would like to say that I have a high
In general terms regard for Cathay Pacific as an airline. I have no objection to the amendment providing that Cathay Pacific or any other qualifying airline based in the relevant overseas territory etc., meets certain other criteria that every British airline is required to meet under the Act.
I am sure that you agree that it would be totally iniqui- tous and unfair if airlines based in relevant overseas territories etc., and treated as British Airlines were to have unfair advantages over their British based counterparts and of course, it would be equally iniquitous and unfair if British based British airlines had advantages and this I suspect is the reason for the Amendment.
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