Vol. 262 No. 2
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of any intention on the part of Aer Lingus to raise fares on the North Atlantic route and to introduce economy measures which may result in a decline in service; if his Department have sanctioned these proposals; and if he will state the increase in revenue likely to result from such proposals.
7.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any reduction in transatlantic air fares is contemplated consequent on the new sales policy being proposed by Aer Lingus; and, if so, if he will sanction it.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Montreux next month will consider North Atlantic fares for next year. Aerlínte will be represented at the meeting. Aerlínte will be seeking a fares structure which will help in the development of air traffic to and from this country and which will at the same time restore profitability to the scheduled services at a time when costs are rising sharply and fares continue to come down. Increases in air fares at this time would further disimprove competitiveness with the charter carriers and Aerlínte will seek to tackle the problem through reduced costs and higher load factors.
Aerlínte are at present discussing their proposals with my Department.
Could the Minister say whether Aer Lingus have considered seeking permission to operate what most people would regard as a much needed type of fare, namely, an emigrant fare?
On the transatlantic route. Aer Lingus will be pursuing at this conference the policy of reduced fares.
But there is no recommendation in their recent policy submission with regard to emigrant fares.
Not as such, but we will be pursuing a cheaper fare policy.
Would the Minister not agree there is a special case to be made for purely emigrant fares?
That is a separate question.
There is a very real legal difficulty in that regard. Let us be practical about it.
