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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0863.PDF
Transatlantic setback for BMA LONDON British Midland Airways faces a major obstacle over its recently granted Glasgow- New York route. UK Trans port Secretary Nicholas Ridley has upheld an appeal by the British Airports Authority against the Civil Aviation Authority's decision to award the route to BMA. In its ruling the UK Govern ment said that the CAA did not examine in detail the implications for airports policy in Scotland of licensing a Glasgow rather than a Prestwick service, nor was it possible for the Transport Secretary to do so in the context of the appeal. At the same time Ridley has initiated a review of the Scottish lowland airports policy, particularly in relation to Prestwick, to see whether it continues to satisfy Scot land's civil air transport needs. If, as a result of the review, other Scottish airports were designated for long-haul services, BMA could reapply for a Glasgow- New York licence. The Scottish division of the BAA is determined that BMA should fly to New York out of Prestwick. Director of the division, Dr W. Gordon Watson, is confident that the lowlands review will bear out the BAA's judgement that: "Prestwick has a vital role to play in an integrated Scottish airports network". British Midland, however, is adamant about its trans atlantic flights from Scotland. It is willing to operate only from Glasgow. Although Prestwick is Scotland's desig nated airport for intercon tinental long-haul services, BMA chairman Mike Bishop says that there would not be enough traffic for a viable operation there. As far as Bishop is concerned, "it's Glasgow or nothing. Glasgow is Scotland's principal hub," he maintains. TAI suffers Antipodes rebuff BANGKOK ~ Thai Airways International's attempts to fly to New Zeal and and Australia have been unsuccessful. New Zealand has rejected an offer to hold direct air links with Thailand, while Australia has flatly turned down TAI's request for rights to operate to Perth. Qantas is understood to have argued that the volume of traffic TAI would generate would be insufficient. New Zealand's decision apparently arose from its Government's efforts to limit trade with Thailand "for the time being". Meanwhile, Thailand's Finance Ministry completed Thai International's hat trick of bad news when it threw out the airline's application to increase its registered capital. It did, however, approve the' floating of a $22 million bond issue in Japan later this year. The revenue will be used for part of the cost of two Airbus A300-600s TAI has ordered. The remainder will be financed by guaranteed export credits. Thai Inter national's request to increase its capital was refused on the grounds that the Ministry, which holds 73 per cent of TAI, does not have the money. A spokesman for the airline says that the carrier's financial position "still looks good, with a low debt to equity ratio". This normally ensures good terms for borrowing, and the Ministry said that it would guarantee any loans. Vienna set to compete for passengers VIENNA ~ The Austrian Government is expected to give the go-ahead soon for urgent improvement work at Vienna's Schwechat Airport. The announcement is due just as the $40 million modernisation of Budapest Feringeny Airport approaches completion. Schwechat Airport com mercial chief Otto Engel- berger said that if Vienna's airport was not modernised it could find itself in a poor position to attract traffic. "Budapest will be a very serious competitor for us", he added, "for the airport has longer runways and cheaper fuel prices. Transit pas sengers can stay up to 48hr without a visa". Transport Ministry offi- Air Zimbabwe has adopted a new colour scheme for its Boeing 707 and Viscount fleet, featuring the colours of the country's national flag -*' AIR TRANSPORT cials in Vienna have forecast that Budapest will immedi ately syphon off 10 per cent of Schwechat's 650,000 passen gers a year. Engelberger is particularly concerned by Pan American's decision to fly three services a week between New York, Munich, and Budapest without a stop at Vienna. There are currently only three flights from Vienna to the USA: one by Romanian carrier Tarom and two by Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines. NEWS SCAN Euroair is offering British companies a new concept in business lunches. Starting at £95 a head, the Gatwick- based charter operator will provide a private aircraft— from a 5-seater Aztec to a 76-seater Viscount—and fly their clients to France for a gourmet lunch and champagne at a beachside restaurant. Euroair will provide flights to either Deauville or Le Touquet from any chosen UK airport. Olympic Airways carried more passengers on its domestic and international routes in 1983 than in the previous year. The Greek flag carrier flew 1-7 million pas sengers on its international services, compared with 1-5 million in 1982. On its domes tic network Olympic carried 4-1 million passengers, com pared with 3-7 million in the previous year. Total passenger kilometres flown increased 6-8 per cent from 4,986 million RPKs in 1982 to 5,323 million RPKs, and passenger load factor for the year was 64 • 9 per cent. Air Queensland has opened a European sales office in a bid to attract more passengers from Europe to Queensland, Australia. Situated in Frank furt, the office will be managed by the public relations group Gorm Borup. Air Queensland, which recently became a member of lata, will work closely with the European travel trade and Australian flag carrier Qantas to help market the airline's 45-city network. Philippine Air Lines has increased the frequency of its London-Manila service from twice to three times a week. The new service, on Sundays, will route through Paris, Zurich, Dubai, and Bangkok. FLIGHT International, 19 May 1984 1311
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