TNAG-0862-FCO40-1072-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 81

GRS 300

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

*FKK 1

FM HONG KONG 240956Z JAN 79

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

INFO DELHI

TELEGRAM NUMBER 167 OF 24 JANUARY-

184/1.

No 172911

RaiR

Mr

wilha

Polo "opeal

брова-пра

229/1

MARD

it

AIR INDIA HAVE REQUESTED AUTHORITY TO RESUME FREIGHTER OPERATIONS THROUGH HONG KONG TO TOKYO AND RETURN WITH RIGHTS AT HONG KONG,

WITH EFFECT FROM 4 FEBRUARY.

2. THEY PRESENTLY OPERATE 6 X 707 PASSENGER SERVICES EACH WAY

THROUGH HONG KONG TO TOKYO, AND FROM OUR READING OF THE PRESENT ASA ARRANGEMENTS WE BELIEVE THY ARE ENTITLED TO THE EXTRA FREQUENCY

ALTHOUGH OUR CALCULATION OF THEIR ENTITLEMENT DOES DIFFER FROM THEIRS (SEE PARA 3). THEY HAVE, HOWEVER, SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT TO BE USED IS A DC-8/63F WET LEASED FROM SEABOARD WORLD USING SEABOARD CREW, WITH THE ''AIR INDIA''NAME ON BOTH SIDES. AIR INDIA

HERE HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE LEASE BUT BELIEVE THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO GET ONE FROM HQ IN BOMBAY.

3. AIR INDIA SAY THEY ARE ENTITLED TO 7 X 707S AT HONG KONG,

QUOTING AN AIR INDIA/BRITISH AIRWAYS AGREEMENT OF 1973, BUT OUR READING OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS (CMU OF 13 MAY 1977) IS THAT.

AIR INDIA CAN OPERATE UP TO 3 X 747 AND 2 X 707 PER WEEK. OUR RECORDS ALSO INDICATE THAT AT THE TALKS LEADING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ONE 747 WAS REGARDED AS EQUIVALENT TO TWO 707S. SO IT SEEMS TO US THAT AIR INDAI ARE ENTITLED TO 8 X 707S OR EQUIVALENT. THE RATIO 707: DC8/63 DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED.

4. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE, IN PARTICULAR:

A. WOULD YOU REQUIRE AIR INDIA TO SUPPLY A COPY OF THE LEASE

AND AN UNDERTAKING THAT SEABOARD WORLD COULD NOT ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL

RIGHTS THROUGH IT ?

RESTRICTED

/ B. WOULD