23 May 2007
The Department for Transport has released details of how it is going to introduce a dedicated air service for the Royal Household and senior ministers. The service is currently provided by the RAF and charter services, but these arrangements were considered ‘poor value’ in Sir Peter Gershon’s Independent Air Travel Review, published last year. Other criticisms were that it put pressure on RAF resources and raised security issues.
Instead, the review suggests that they should be replaced by a ‘new dedicated air service’. This is being started via a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to the Official Journal of the European Union, which will start the procurement process rolling.
In the meantime the government is said to be trying to negotiate a better deal with the charter market, and continuing the current arrangement with the RAF.
