SSE says BAA living in a Walter Mitty world
ISSUED BY STOP STANSTED EXPANSION
of make believe as passenger numbers and flights at Stansted Airport fell for
the fifteenth consecutive month according to figures announced today (10 February).
downturn and BAA’s 2007 decision to double Stansted landing charges to its biggest
airline customers.
and SSE estimates that this year Stansted will handle just 155,000 flights – down
20,000 on current levels. This is only half the capacity of the existing runway,
demonstrating the illogicality and fantasy-based business strategy of BAA in pushing
ahead with its planning application for a second runway, due to be considered
at a Public Inquiry beginning on 15 April.
Inquiry to be postponed, pointing out that with Stansted Airport in such rapid
decline there is no conceivable reason for haste. In addition the Competition
Commission is expected to confirm within the next month that BAA must sell Stansted,
throwing the Public Inquiry process into confusion.
councils and even its own major customers at Stansted, Ryanair and easyJet who
together account for over 80 per cent of Stansted’s business. Against such opposition
BAA’s prospects for winning approval at the Public Inquiry are bound to be slim
– as are the chances of any new owner of Stansted taking them forward even if
permission were granted.
the next general election, which must take place before June next year, both the
main opposition parties are committed to scrapping any plans for a second Stansted
runway.
being frivolous and irresponsible with other people’s money since a Public Inquiry
won’t come cheap for any of the parties. The cost to council taxpayers in Herts
and Essex alone could be more than £2m."
to the blight and uncertainty that has dogged this community for years."