CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3723
OF 14110OZ DECEMBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 020126
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v
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2.10
016161
MDHIAN 4383
CuteV PA
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19/12
INFO IMMEDIATE DTP (FOR IAD), BAHRAIN, ABU DHABI, DOHA, DUBAI INFO IMMEDIATE RIYADH
205
207
BAHRAIN TELNO 493 AND YOUR TELNO 2339 : CPA FLIGHTS THROUGH MIDDLE EAST
1. FURTHER TO TURF AND TELECONVERSATION BETWEEN LOVETT (AMD) AND BOSHER CAG.SES) ON 12 DECEMBER, THE LATTER SAW PETER SUTCH (MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CPA) ON 14 DECEMBER AND CONVEYED THE TWO REQUESTS SET OUT IN PARA 1 OF FIRST TUR.
2. SUTCH CONFIRMED THAT CPA'S INTENTION IS TO STOP SERVING BAHRAIN (AND DUBAI) FROM 10 JANUARY IF A PEACE SETTLEMENT IS NOT IN SIGHT. HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS WAS ONLY A CONTINGENCY PLAN, AND A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE INVOKED OR MODIFIED WOULD BE MADE ON 31 DECEMBER IN THE LIGHT OF THE PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES. IN DRAWING UP THIS PLAN PLAN, CPA HAD TAKEN FULL ACCOUNT OF LOCAL FEELINGS AND SENSITIVITIES. CPA CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NOW THE ONLY FOREIGN AIRLINE STILL MAINTAINING THEIR NORMAL FREQUENCY AND SCHEDULES TO BAHRAIN. IN SO DOING THEY ARE ACTING AGAINST THEIR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS : CPA'S DAILY SERVICE TO BAHRAIN IS LOSING US DOLLARS 1 MILLION A WEEK. MOREOVER, THE HK/LONDON LOAD FACTORS ON CX 200/201 HAVE ALSO BEEN BADLY HIT BECAUSE OF THE RELUCTANCE OF PASSENGERS TO TRAVEL THROUGH BAHRAIN.
3. DESPITE CPA'S WISH TO HANG ON FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT, FOR THE SAKE OF PASSENGER AND CREW SAFETY, IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO DELAY THE CUT OFF BEYOND 10 JANUARY, WHICH AFTERALL IS ONLY 5 DAYS A HEAD OF THE UN DEADLINE. ANOTHER FACTOR WHICH HAS INFLUENCED CPA'S DECISION IS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WOULD BE TRAVELLING FROM HONG KONG TO THE UK ON CX FLIGHTS IN JANUARY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL TERM. CPA ARE ALREADY RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS WHO FELL THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING PLACED AT RISK ON FLIGHTS ROUTED THROUGH BAHRAIN.
4. SUTCH SAID THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE ON THE CONTINGENCY PLAN UNTIL A FINAL DECISION TO GO AHEAD WAS MADE AT
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