GR 900
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
LIKK 184
CONFIDENTIAL
EGIST
NO.
1 JAN 978
CER
PA
FM FCO 061921Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 18 OF 6 JAN 1979
PA copy for ASA file
INFO HONG KONG (BCARFE) CANBERRA WELLINGTON BAHRAIN DOHA MUSCAT DUBAI ABU DHABI BANGKOK ·
PA SERVICES LONDON-GULF-HONGKONG-AUSTRALASIA
1. LARGELY AS A RESULT OF OUR PROMPTING BRITISH AIRWAYS HAVE DECIDED TO SUSPEND THEIR SERVICES VIA HONG KONG TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WEF 1 APRIL 1978. THIS MEANS THAT FROM THAT DATE APART FROM THE ONCE WEEKLY VC 10 THROUGH SERVICE TO TOKYO ALL BA'S SERVICES BETWEEN LONDON AND HONG KONG WILL BE TERMINATORS. THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICES TO HONG KONG. WE HAVE DELAYED NOTIFYING YOU FORMALLY OF THIS CHANGE UNTIL WE WERE CLEARER ABOUT ITS IMPLICATIONS.
(8)
2. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN BA'S TOTAL RE-PLANNING OF THEIR EASTERN SERVICES FOLLOWING THIS DECISION, WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR NEXT SUMMER AT LEAST CAPACITY BETWEEN LONDON AND HONG KONG WILL REMAIN AT 9 TIMES 747 PLUS 1 TIMES VC 10 PER WEEK IN EACH DIRECTION, THIS WILL INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF SEATS: WHILE THE OMISSION OF THE FURTHER LEG TO AUSTRALIA (AND EVEN MORE SO, NEW ZEALAND) SHOULD IMPROVE BA'S TIME-KEEPING.
3. AT THE SAME TIME, BA ARE INTRODUCING THE ROLLS ROYCE ENGINED B 747'S INTO SERVICE ON THE AUSTRALIAN ROUTES WITH FEWER INTER- MEDIATE STOPS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A FASTER SERVICE. IN THIS CASE HOWEVER, THE FREQUENCY IS BEING REDUCED. WE UNDERSTAND CANBERRA ALREADY HAVE DETAILS. IF ANY BILATERAL PROBLEMS WITH AUSTRALIA ARISE AS A RESULT, ROGERS WILL DEAL WITH THEM WHEN HE VISITS CANBERRA AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.
4. CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGES IN BA'S SERVICES BETWEEN LONDON AND NEW ZEALAND (AND ALSO IN THE SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NEW ZEALAND) WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEGOTIATIONS NOW DUE TO START
CONFIDENTIAL
/IN WELLINGTON
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