CBI, aviation industry, BAA etc say (again …) UK will become a branch line without Heathrow 3rd runway

The Chief Policy Director of the CBI says “The UK is becoming a branch-line destination on the route map of global airlines.” And for some reason she feels the need to also say that “Such is the threat to the UK’s prominence that Dubai is set to overtake Heathrow by 2016 as the world’s largest international airport.” So what?  Dubai is more centrally located than London for global traffic.  She also fears Heathrow will be overtaken by Paris or Frankfurt.  The director of airline Etihad says (surprise surprise) “Heathrow will not be able to compete unless it opens another runway.” That’s because he wants two more flights per day to  Dubai. And BAA boss Colin Matthews will unveil new research showing 53% of airlines are increasing their flights out of other countries due to the severe capacity restraints at Heathrow. And more along those lines ….



Britain could become aviation ‘branch line’ without third runway at Heathrow, warns chief

Britain is in danger of becoming an aviation branch line unless Heathrow is allowed to build a third runway, a business leader has warned.

By David Millward, Transport Editor in Tokyo  (Telegraph)

18 Apr 2012

The lack of airport capacity has concerned airline chiefs who gathered in Tokyo for the global summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Katja Hall, the CBI’s Chief Policy Director, said: “The eleven major policy reviews on airport capacity since the last full-length runway was opened in the south of England in 1948 illustrate the degree of political challenge here.

” But the consequences of this indecision can no longer be ignored.

“The UK is becoming a branch-line destination on the route map of global airlines.

“This is a damaging break in the UK’s export chain, and its consequences are a real concern for businesses across the country.”

Such is the threat to the UK’s prominence that Dubai is set to overtake Heathrow by 2016 as the world’s largest international airport.

Aggressive growth of Paris and Frankfurt has intensified pressure from aviation and business leaders for the Government to have a change of heart.

Willie Walsh, the head of the International Airlines Group, welcomed the Coalition’s decision to reopen the debate on runway capacity in the South East, but added that all options should be considered.

James Hogan, the chief executive of Etihad, also called for Heathrow to be allowed to expand.

“We currently fly three services a day into Heathrow, we would like to operate five.

“Heathrow will not be able to compete unless it opens another runway.”

The plight has been thrown into even sharper focus by Dubai’s plans to overtake Heathrow by 2016 as the world’s largest international airport. Last year Heathrow handled 69.4 million passengers. With both parties opposing expansion and the building of a third runway.

By 2020 Dubai expects to cater for 90 million passengers thanks to expansion of existing terminals and the construction of a new one capable of handling 20 giant Airbus A380s.

Even this will be dwarfed by Dubai’s plans for a new monster airport by the middle of the next decade.

With five runways, it is anticipated that it will be cater for 160 million people by the late 2020s.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9211104/Britain-could-become-aviation-branch-line-without-third-runway-at-Heathrow-warns-chief.

 


 

and

 

Foreign airlines shunning UK due to lack of space at Heathrow airport, BAA boss Colin Matthews reveals

Foreign airlines are “voting with their feet” and building networks outside of the UK due to the Government’s paralysis on aviation policy, ministers will be warned on Wednesday.

A survey by the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK shows that 86% of airlines would introduce more flights to the UK if a greater number of take-off and landing slots were made available at Heathrow

By Nathalie Thomas

18 Apr 2012  (Telegraph)

 

BAA boss Colin Matthews will unveil new research at a conference in London, showing 53% of airlines are increasing their flights out of other countries due to the severe capacity restraints at Heathrow.

The airports boss will renew his warning that the UK is losing out on vital investment and jobs due to the Government’s lack of support for expanding capacity at Britain’s only hub airport.

A survey by the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK – an organisation that represents 84 global airlines – shows that 86pc would introduce more flights to the UK if a greater number of take-off and landing slots were made available at Heathrow.

Publication of the Government’s much-anticipated aviation White Paper, due by the end of March, has been delayed until the summer, frustrating airline and airport bosses who warn ministers need to urgently address the crippling “capacity crunch” in the South East of England.

Speaking at the Transport Times conference in London, Mr Matthews will say: “These figures show that it is a mistake to believe that flights displaced from Heathrow will automatically fly to Stansted, Gatwick or Birmingham instead.

“Instead of Britain taking the lead in forging new links with growing economies like China, we are handing economic growth to our competitors by turning away airlines who want to bring jobs, growth and trade to the UK.”

The Coalition made a manifesto pledge that it would not sanction an expansion of Heathrow during this Parliament but there are hopes key members of the Government are realising the need to increase hub capacity.

Ministers have been warned that other proposals such building “Boris Island”, a new airport on the Thames Estuary, are too long-term and would be difficult to fund.

Frontier Economics recently published research showing there are 21 emerging market destinations with daily flights from other European hubs that are not served from Heathrow.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9209556/Foreign-airlines-shunning-UK-due-to-lack-of-space-at-Heathrow-airport-BAA-boss-Colin-Matthews-reveals.html