CONFIDENTIAL
PP HONG KONG
GRS 322
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 041000Z AUG 82
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 606 OF 4 AUGUST
17502
Mr. Magli's
WP
UK/THAILAND AIR SERVICES:
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YOUR TELNO 786
WE REGRET THAT CPA/THAI NEGOTIATIONS AT INTERAIRLINE
LEVEL HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AND WE NOTE THAT THE THAIS HAVE
RAISED ONCE AGAIN THE PROSPECT OF A TRADE-OFF BETWEEN BANGKOK-
LONDON AND BANGKOK-EUROPE RIGHTS.
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WE HAVE NEVER SAID TO THE THAI AUTHORITIES THAT SUCH A
TRADE-OFF WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE UK AUTHORITIES AND WE RAISED
CPA'S REQUIREMENTS WITH THE THAIS AT THE FIRST ROUND OF INTER-
GOVERNMENTAL TALKS IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THIS IF NECESSARY.
SUCH A TRADE-OFF WOULD HOWEVER REQUIRE AGREEMENT IN THE FIRST
PLACE BETWEEN THE INTERESTED UK AIRLINES. WE WOULD SEE LITTLE
PROSPECT OF THIS NOW THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON BANGKOK-EUROPE RIGHTS
HAVE AT CPA'S REQUEST GONE FORWARD AT INTERAIRLINE LEVEL AND
NEGOTIATION ON BANGKOK/LONDON RIGHTS HAS BEEN SATISFACTORILY
CONCLUDED AT INTERGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL. THIS IS HOWEVER A MATTER
BETWEEN CPA AND BA WHICH THE FORMER WILL NO DOUBT PURSUE IF IT
SEES IT IN ITS INTEREST TO DO SO.
3. ON PARIS, WE CANNOT GIVE ANY COMMITMENT TO NEGOTIATE ON
BEHALF OF CPA, AT LEAST UNTIL WE KNOW THE CAA DECISION, DUE TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY, ON THEIR LONDON-PARIS HEARING, AND THE
OUTCOME OF ANY SUBSEQUENT APPEAL. EVEN THEN, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND
THE ARGUMENTS ON THE HONG KONG SIDE, WE MAY JUDGE THAT IT WOULD
NOT BE IN THE OVERALL UK AVIATION INTEREST TO PRESS FOR A PARIS
ROUTE FOR CPA AT THE PRESENT TIME.
4. HOWEVER, WWE REMAIN READY TO TAKE UP THE QUESTION OF
RIGHTS FOR CPA AT ZURICH AND HAVE RESERVED THE WEEKS BEGINNING
20 AND 27 SEPTEMBER FOR THIS PURPOSE. PLEASE LET US KNOW AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU WANT US TO REQUEST NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE SWISS AND WHICH DATES WOULD SUIT YOU. WE EXPECT THAT
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CONFIDENTIAL