asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he proposes to alter the regulations covering landing permission for charter aircraft to ensure that the Irish tourist industry does not suffer as a result of the present restrictive measures applied to airlines not operating scheduled services on the routes on which they wish to operate charter flights.
Written Answers. - Charter Aircraft Landing Permission.
71.
Policy in relation to charter flights is designed to give charter operators the maximum opportunity of participating in transatlantic traffic 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 is reserved for the carriers designated to operate scheduled services under the air agreements. Where a scheduled carrier is unable to accept a charter group or delays beyond a reasonable period in accepting it a non-scheduled carrier will be authorised to operate the flight. I am satisfied that these controls are the minimum necessary to prevent serious erosion of the scheduled services and do not have any significant adverse effect on tourism.