The Guvnor
2nd April 2001, 12:28
Minister joins call for cheaper air
fares to US
Dean Nelson
TRANSPORT minister Sarah Boyack has
added her voice to the Fares Fair for
Scotland campaign, declaring her support for
scrapping an agreement between Britain and the United States
which forces Scots to pay more for transatlantic flights.
In a letter to the Sunday Times the minister said she wanted to
see cheaper transatlantic fares for passengers travelling from
Scottish airports and more direct air services to and from
Scotland.
Her comments mark a growing recognition among UK and
Scottish ministers that the "sum of sectors" rule unfairly
penalises Scots air travellers.
The rule is part of the Bermuda II agreement between Britain
and the US aimed at preventing American airlines from enjoying
an unfair advantage by discounting their greater number of
internal connecting flights on transatlantic journeys. It forces all
tranatlantic carriers to charge full fares on connecting flights,
which means that passengers flying from Scotland to the US
via London pay a premium.
Lord Macdonald, UK transport minister, announced a unilateral
lifting of the rule for British regional airports last year, but the
move had no effect because he had not agreed it with the
Americans, as required by Bermuda II.
He said the government would continue to apply the rule to
flights via London airports until the US government conceded
new flying rights for UK airlines within the United States.
The Scottish transport minister's comments indicated she
would lobby the UK government to lift restrictions on American
routes via London.
"The extension of the sum of sectors changes to include the
main London airports would be of potential benefit to transitting
passengers from Scotland and would therefore be welcome,"
she said.
"I would not wish airlines to see such support as an alternative
to the development of direct services from Scotland," she
added.
Her comments were welcomed by British Midland, Britain's
third biggest airline. Its chairman, Sir Michael Bishop, will call
on members of the Scottish parliament this week to support
the Fares Fair for Scotland campaign and urge the Scottish
executive to put more pressure on the London government to
scrap "rip-off fares" from Scotland.
He and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bill
Furness will address a Scottish Tourism Forum event,
Connecting Scotland: Why Scotland needs more, better and
cheaper air routes, at the Scottish parliament on Wednesday.
Bishop said British Midland's research revealed a family of four
flying from Edinburgh to Miami via London could pay £1,040
more than one travelling from Amsterdam to Miami via London,
while a business class traveller flying from Edinburgh to New
York via London will pay £840 more than a Dutch traveller flying
from Amsterdam to New York via London.
"At a time when Edinburgh is seeking to promote itself as a
centre for financial services business, it is madness for the UK
government to persist with the unilateral imposition of the
sum-of-sector regulations. They shackle business, deter inward
investment and penalise families taking their annual holiday. I
hope MSPs will now join us in putting additional pressure on
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in
London."
You can express you views by emailing
[email protected].
Connecting Scotland: Why Scotland Needs More, Cheaper and
Better Air Routes, hosted by the Scottish Tourism Forum, is at
5.30pm on Wednesday, April 4, at Canonball House, Royal
Mile, Edinburgh
fares to US
Dean Nelson
TRANSPORT minister Sarah Boyack has
added her voice to the Fares Fair for
Scotland campaign, declaring her support for
scrapping an agreement between Britain and the United States
which forces Scots to pay more for transatlantic flights.
In a letter to the Sunday Times the minister said she wanted to
see cheaper transatlantic fares for passengers travelling from
Scottish airports and more direct air services to and from
Scotland.
Her comments mark a growing recognition among UK and
Scottish ministers that the "sum of sectors" rule unfairly
penalises Scots air travellers.
The rule is part of the Bermuda II agreement between Britain
and the US aimed at preventing American airlines from enjoying
an unfair advantage by discounting their greater number of
internal connecting flights on transatlantic journeys. It forces all
tranatlantic carriers to charge full fares on connecting flights,
which means that passengers flying from Scotland to the US
via London pay a premium.
Lord Macdonald, UK transport minister, announced a unilateral
lifting of the rule for British regional airports last year, but the
move had no effect because he had not agreed it with the
Americans, as required by Bermuda II.
He said the government would continue to apply the rule to
flights via London airports until the US government conceded
new flying rights for UK airlines within the United States.
The Scottish transport minister's comments indicated she
would lobby the UK government to lift restrictions on American
routes via London.
"The extension of the sum of sectors changes to include the
main London airports would be of potential benefit to transitting
passengers from Scotland and would therefore be welcome,"
she said.
"I would not wish airlines to see such support as an alternative
to the development of direct services from Scotland," she
added.
Her comments were welcomed by British Midland, Britain's
third biggest airline. Its chairman, Sir Michael Bishop, will call
on members of the Scottish parliament this week to support
the Fares Fair for Scotland campaign and urge the Scottish
executive to put more pressure on the London government to
scrap "rip-off fares" from Scotland.
He and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bill
Furness will address a Scottish Tourism Forum event,
Connecting Scotland: Why Scotland needs more, better and
cheaper air routes, at the Scottish parliament on Wednesday.
Bishop said British Midland's research revealed a family of four
flying from Edinburgh to Miami via London could pay £1,040
more than one travelling from Amsterdam to Miami via London,
while a business class traveller flying from Edinburgh to New
York via London will pay £840 more than a Dutch traveller flying
from Amsterdam to New York via London.
"At a time when Edinburgh is seeking to promote itself as a
centre for financial services business, it is madness for the UK
government to persist with the unilateral imposition of the
sum-of-sector regulations. They shackle business, deter inward
investment and penalise families taking their annual holiday. I
hope MSPs will now join us in putting additional pressure on
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in
London."
You can express you views by emailing
[email protected].
Connecting Scotland: Why Scotland Needs More, Cheaper and
Better Air Routes, hosted by the Scottish Tourism Forum, is at
5.30pm on Wednesday, April 4, at Canonball House, Royal
Mile, Edinburgh