Michael Connarty Speaks Out on Edinburgh - London Flights Threat

Michael Connarty MP speaks out during transport questions against the proposed BA takeover of the BMI franchise.

Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP Michael Connarty has spoken out at the House of Commons Transport debate on the International Airlines Group's bid to aquire the Airline BMI. This takeover would result in BA having control over the present service offered by BMI which Michael and other Central Scotland MP'S can use to travel from their Constituencies each week to and from Parliament.

Michael spoke during oral questions on this proposed merger and made it clear to Theresa Villiers the Minister of State for Transport (rail and aviation) that if the merger was allowed to procede it would detroy the service currently in place from Edinburgh to London.He was very unhappy with the Minister of State's lack of commitment to Scottish air passengers and illustrated his point during the debate by saying - "Does she realise what British Airways is doing at the moment?To give an example a 9.15 pm flight that I was supposed to take left at 10.36 after two other flights to City Airport had been cancelled. It arrived after the Heathrow Express had left and I got home at 1.15 in the morning.That is what BA is doing now. This is not a question of competition. I want the Minister to tell the EU that it is not acceptable to the people of Scotland for BA to take over the BMI franchise. It will do what it is doing now and destroy the service from Edinburgh to this city."