Examination of Witnesses (Questions 77
- 79)
WEDNESDAY 24 MAY 2000
MR PHILIP
MEESON AND
MR STEVE
GUYNAN
Chairman
77. Gentlemen, I am sorry to have kept you waiting.
Would you be kind enough to identify yourselves for the record?
(Mr Meeson) Yes, good afternoon, I am Philip Meeson,
the Chief Executive of Channel Express and this is Steve Guynan.
78. Thank you. Do you have any general remarks
you would like to make.
(Mr Meeson) Yes indeed, Madam Chairman.
79. Mr Meeson?
(Mr Meeson) Good afternoon and thank you very much
indeed for calling us to give oral evidence this afternoon, Madam
Chairman. As I have just introduced ourselves, I am Philip Meeson,
I am the Chief Executive of Channel Express and to my right is
Steve Guynan who is the Group Secretary of the British Cargo Airline
Alliance. Now we welcome the Committee's inquiry into the important
subject of air service agreements between the United Kingdom and
the United States. It is particularly appropriate that we are
here today giving evidence on this issue as it was specifically
the negotiations with the United States that led to the formation
of our trade association 18 months ago. Our members and supporters
include my own airline, Channel Express (Air Services), Air Foyle,
Air Freight Express, Atlantic Airlines, HeavyLift, DHL and TNT.
The British Cargo Airline Alliance advocates liberalisation across
all world aviation markets. Since liberalisation of the European
markets in 1997, British cargo airlines have done very well in
Europe, but our further growth is hindered by the failure to secure
a reciprocal air services agreement with the United States. You
will know from our evidence that we seek fairness and reciprocity
in any agreement with the United States. We also feel cargo is
an extremely important market in its own right and should not
be traded for passenger rights. We now look forward to answering
your questions.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr O'Brien?
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