asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has completed the review of the implications for Irish tourism of the policy of restricting landing rights to American Charter Airlines; if so, what changes in policy are contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Landing Rights Restrictions.
15.
Mr. O'Donnell
I have recently issued an explanatory statement to the airlines and to the agencies organising transatlantic "affinity" charter flights which sets out very fully our policy and the procedures involved in implementing it. This policy is designed to give the non-scheduled carriers the maximum opportunity of participating in transatlantic operations consistent with maintaining the viability of the scheduled services. Authorisations for charter flights off the scheduled routes are granted freely but the first option to operate such flights on the scheduled routes must be given to the scheduled carriers. If the scheduled carriers are unable to accept a charter group or if they delay beyond a reasonable period in accepting it, a non-scheduled carrier is authorised to operate a flight. Four weeks are regarded as a reasonable period for reply by the scheduled carrier for flights commencing six months after the date of application. For flights commencing earlier or later than six months the time for reply would vary more or less proportionately.
All parties concerned are now fully aware of the position and I am satisfied that this policy operated in the manner indicated provides reasonable opportunities to all carriers and ensures that there should be no loss of tourist business.
I have placed a copy of the statement in the Library for the further information of Deputies.
Mr. O'Donnell
Would the Minister say whether or not it is a fact that all previous applications by charter airlines to operate in here have come from Boston, New York and Chicago? The vast majority of applications have come from those three centres from which scheduled air services are operated. In view of this, how can the Minister say that his new change of policy will have any appreciable effect on the amount of charter traffic in here? It is reasonable to assume that future applications will come from the same areas.
Irish Airlines operating in the North Atlantic propose to increase their business in the coming season by 78 per cent as against last year's figure. They propose to go actively into the charter business. I have mentioned the target in so far as Irish Airlines are concerned. The new procedures will mean that in the coming season there will be a definite situation. A promoter of a tour must get a reply, one way or the other, from the scheduled carriers within four weeks, if it is a charter operation six months ahead, or two weeks if it is an operation three months ahead, and one week if the charter operation is one month ahead. In this way there will be an element of certainty brought into the whole promotion business from the North Atlantic market, which was not there heretofore.
Mr. O'Donnell
May I ask the Minister one other question in view of the extreme importance of this matter? Assuming that a group in the vicinity of Chicago wish to travel to Ireland and they make an application to come by TIA or some other charter line, and the Minister indicates that they should avail of scheduled services and assuming the capacity is there to take this group what about the price factor? Can we take it that the scheduled carriers will bring that group at the same price as they would be quoted from the American charter company?
We are considering the introduction of price tolerance as between scheduled and non-scheduled services. We have not worked that one out yet.
Mr. O'Donnell
Are changes contemplated in the fare structures on the North Atlantic?
Yes.