CONFIDENTIAL
Thailand. These applications are being considered and are
likely to be heard by ATLA in the second quarter of 1986.
Non-Scheduled Services (Charter Flights)
6.
Charter
airlines seek the necessary approval
flights fall
outside the bilateral ASAS;
themselves from the
DAL
occasional charter
aeronautical authorities at both ends of the route.
have, since their inception, mounted
flights mainly to Malaysia and Thailand. DCA Hong Kong
have n ow given permission for DAL to approach the
aeronautical authorities in a number of countries about
charter services (PRC, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
thailand and the Netherlands). Permission to operate a
regular series of charter services to London was refused by
DCA Hong Kong at the beginning of February on the grounds that DAL had failed to show that there was a genuine demand that could not be met by the existing scheduled carriers
(CPA, British Airways and British Caledonian). This is in
accord with the publicly stated Hong Kong policy. DAL have
resubmitted
for more detailed application
now
further, a
charter services
by DCA Hong Kong.
to the UK which is
is still being considered
HMG is not able to intervene.
7.
to
services
response
Frequent attempts by DAL to operate charter
the PRC have been largely thwarted by the slow
of CAAC. The Ambassador in Peking has complained to the
MFA about this and Dr Wilson has also raised the subject
with the Chinese Ambassador. So far only very limited
operations to Xiamen have been approved by the Chinese.
UK/PRC Air Service Relations
8.
The
emergence of DAL as a fledgling airline in Hong Kong has also complicated Our bilateral air service relations with the PRC. The Secretary of State may recall raising the question of obtaining a fairer deal for CPA on routes between Hong Kong and China with Wu Xueqian in June
1985.
CONFIDENTIAL