Aviation Minister Karen Buck today announced that the Government will welcome applications from foreign airlines to fly new international air services to or from UK regional airports.
Examples of the new kinds of services that could now be allowed include the following:
– a foreign airline flying from country A to country B will be able to set down or pick up passengers or cargo at a UK regional airport en route
– a foreign airline flying from country A to the UK will be able to pick up passengers or cargo from country B en route to its destination in the UK.The rights to operate such services (known as “fifth freedoms”) are traditionally closely limited through the system of bilateral air services agreements under which international aviation is controlled. In future, the UK will apply a general presumption in favour of allowing such services, both passenger and cargo.
Commenting, Aviation Minister Karen Buck said:
“Today’s announcement supports the UK’s policy, which we set out in the 2003 Aviation White Paper, to promote the growth of regional airports. It is also consistent with the UK’s general approach towards liberalising its bilateral air services agreements.
“The move will potentially mean more services and a greater choice of connections for passengers outside the South East of England. It will attract extra business to regional airports, improve access to markets, and help to enhance the growing contribution that airports throughout the UK are making to their local and regional economies.
“It is now up to the airlines to apply to operate new services.”
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September 26, 2005 at 6:55 pm