Kehoe welcomes delay in announcing airports strategy

Birmingham Airport has welcomed the delay to the publication of the  Government’s future strategy on aviation.  It believes that the decision to push it back until the end of the year suggests the Government is taking the matter seriously and will be consulting more widely.  Paul Kehoe said: “Birmingham Airport called for a proper debate on aviation and the delay shows that the Government has listened. “For too long, aviation strategy has been determined by narrow self-interest, and the very important needs of London and the South East have been conflated with the wider national interest. Now we all have the time to come up with a strategy which will benefit the whole of the UK.” Meaning Birmingham.

 

 

BIRMINGHAM Airport has welcomed the delay to the publication of the  Government’s future strategy on aviation

13.7.2012  (The Business Desk)

It believes that the decision to push it back until the end of the year suggests the Government is taking the matter seriously and will be consulting more widely.

The airport’s chief executive Paul Kehoe said: “Birmingham Airport called for a proper debate on aviation and the delay shows that the Government has listened.

“For too long, aviation strategy has been determined by narrow self-interest, and the very important needs of London and the South East have been conflated with the wider national interest. Now we all have the time to come up with a strategy which will benefit the whole of the UK.”

Kehoe argues that the issue is far larger than the aviation lobby and membership organisations centred on London. He argues the future economic landscape of the UK will be affected for many years to come by the outcome of the consultation.

“In recent days we have seen the closure of the M4 motorway and the long suspension of Heathrow Express train services. It is clear that when it comes to the UK’s aviation strategy we can’t put all of our eggs into one basket,” he said.

Inward investor NVC Lighting – China’s largest lighting manufacturer, which has a local operation based in Rubery – says it would like to see direct flights from China to Birmingham.

Garry Pass, director NVC Lighting (UK), said: “Increased capacity at Birmingham Airport would increase the likelihood that airlines would provide direct services to major cities in the Far East, such as Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

“As the UK subsidiary of a Chinese company we make regular use of flights to China and more direct services, rather than flying from Heathrow or via Paris (Charles de Gaulle) or Amsterdam (Schipol), would benefit our business.

“At present, a senior executive from our parent company has to travel to Birmingham via London. This involves either taking the bus from Heathrow, or a train to central London, changing stations, then another train to Birmingham.”

Birmingham’s inward investment boss Wouter Schuitemaker has also welcomed the delay in announcing future aviation policy.

Schuitemaker, investment director at inward investment programme Business Birmingham, said: “By delaying its aviation strategy, the Government has the opportunity to listen to all parts of the UK about this important issue – and must take full consideration of the alternatives to building a third runway at Heathrow, such as utilising the spare capacity at regional airports.

“Foreign investors tell us that direct routes are key in deciding whether to locate in the Birmingham area – particularly large manufacturers that want to become part of our local industry, but rely on flights to their other bases, and businesses from long-distance markets such as the USA, China and India.”

Birmingham Airport handles around nine million passengers a year, which could double immediately, and it will be able to take 36 million travellers by 2030.

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