1 Jim Allister debates involving the Department for Transport

Tue 5th Nov 2024

Flight Cancellations

Jim Allister Excerpts
Tuesday 5th November 2024

(2 days, 5 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Kane Portrait Mike Kane
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It is great that the Northern Ireland Executive are up and running. In the devolution settlement they will be getting more money, and it is a matter for them how they spend it. On Northern Ireland and particularly Belfast, only this week easyJet—the biggest airline operating out of there, providing 3.8 million seats—has introduced new routes to Prague and Marrakech, and new aircraft. The future is bright for aviation in the Province.

Jim Allister Portrait Jim Allister (North Antrim) (TUV)
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What conclusion does the Minister draw from the fact that dubious cancellations such as those we saw yesterday are far more prevalent where there is a commercial monopoly on the route, such as there is between Belfast City and London City airports, which was the route affected yesterday? If he draws the conclusion that connectivity is not helped by a monopoly, what action do the Government intend to take to encourage competition on such routes?