Dispute Over Airport Services
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Pl.A N application by Northern Roadways, Ltd., Glasgow, to run an express service between Glasgow and Prestwick Airport on behalf of seven airline companies operating from there, was heard before the Scottish Licensing Authority last week. The Western S.M.T. Co.; Ltd., opposed the application, and the hearing was adjourned until May 2. The Licensing Authority proposed that both undertakings should discuss the provision of the services before the court resumed.
Mr. James Walker, K.C., for the applicant said that there were difficui ties at present in obtaining an efficient system of transport for airline passengers, because different companies had their own chartered services. Sometimes two or more buses left Prestwick at the same time with only a feu passengers on board.
Although the air-line companies had tried to co-operate, it had been found difficult to make full use of the buses available. To provide Prestwick Airport with a good service, the companies had proposed terms of agreement to the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., but negotiations which ensued came to nothing. The companies then negotiated with Northern Roadways, Ltd. which stated that it was able to enter into agreement. It was this agreement for which confirmation was sought from the Licensing Authority.
According to Mr. Walker, the objections were lodged on the ground that wasteful competition with existing services would be caused, but it was to eliminate wasteful services that the agreement had been reached. Two undertakings—B.O.A.C. and Scottish Airways—did not want to enter into ,t collective agreement, because they wen State concerns.