Airports Commission data shows the UK has NO urgent airport capacity crisis

While the endlessly repeated publicity from the airports and airlines, and their lobbyists, has succeeded in getting most people in the UK to believe there is some sort of airport capacity crisis, the reality is different. The Airports Commission has been given the task of looking at this alleged shortage of airport capacity, and understanding it in detail. While the Commission’s interim report in December said the “UK requires one net additional runway in south east by 2030” they add that the “UK does not have a connectivity crisis today.” The Commission has produced several charts to illustrate this, and says many more could be produced showing how well served the UK is, by different measures. Their charts illustrating short haul destinations by country show the UK far ahead of European rivals; UK 2nd only to Germany on long haul destinations;  UK first  in Europe for long haul services (now overtaken by Dubai); London far ahead of European rivals by destination for both cities and countries. The UK really is better connected than its rivals, and the Commission say there is “Little evidence of a significant downward trend in UK/London connectivity.”
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UK shown by the green line in the charts below

Airports  Commission short haul destinations by country


 

Airports Commission long haul destinations by country


 

 

Airports Commission long haul services by airport

 

 


 

Airports Commission total destinations by city

 


 

Airports Commission total destinations by country

From Airports Commission power point presentation given on 17th March 2014.

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17 December 2013 — Press release

Airports Commission publishes interim report

The independent review concludes that there is a need for 1 additional runway to be in operation in the south east of the UK by 2030.

Airports Commission: interim report

The interim report from the Airports Commission into airport capacity and connectivity in the UK.

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