AIR SERVICES CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 17

AIR SERVICES CONFERENCE

Sandys May Call 1 1 Meeting (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 30. The Minister of Aviation (Mr Duncan Sandys) said in the House of Commons today, that he believed there would be an advantage in calling a Commonwealth air transport conference “at the right moment” In answer to a question by Mr George Strauss (Labour), who wanted to know what steps he was taking to bring about an agreed co-ordination of Commonwealth air services. Mr Sandys replied:— “Within the framework of inter-Governmental agreements, pooling and other arrangements for co-ordination are being operated between British Overseas Airways and a number of Commonwealth airlines. “These include the Australian Qantas line, South African Airways, and Ghana Airways, and also Central African Airways, last African Airways and Nigeria airways,” said Mr Sandys. “Similar arrangements were concluded last week with TransCanada Airlines and negotiations are going on at the moment with Air India.” Mr Frederick Farey-Jones (Conservative) urged the Minister to call a Commonwealth air transport conference in London early in 1960 to set up a permanent council of Commonwealth •ir transport development on •conomic. cultural and educational grounds. Mr Sandys replied: “I believe •t the right moment there would be advantage in calling such a conference. What the precise agenda should be I would like to leave open.”