XN000022-1996-12-18 — Page 64

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Answer:

Mr President,

A total of 3,510 applications for scheduled flights per week during the summer months in 1997 have been received from the airlines. Over 90% of the requests have been met. For those applications which have been unsuccessful, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) is liaising with the airlines concerned to see whether their requests can be accommodated by making use of the slots which are still available, mostly in the early morning period between 6:30 am and 7:55 am.

From past experience, it is most likely that some airlines may also submit applications to operate non-scheduled flights during the summer months. CAD has asked the airlines to submit any plans for the operation of non-scheduled services during the summer period by the end of March 1997. Any such applications will be considered on a case by case basis and airlines will be allocated vacant slots which have not been utilised by scheduled carriers.

In addition, CAD is examining measures to increase runway capacity temporarily to cope with the additional demand.

End