Airline group supports Airport Commission
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The chief executive of BAR UK Dale Keller has said airlines support the optimisation outlined in the Airport Commission’s interim report today, with airlines willing to work towards fewer delays.
“Despite the inevitable challenges and disagreement that will follow, the vast majority of airlines believe that expanding Heathrow is now the only sensible way forward for the UK. Sir Howard and his team have correctly identified that other proposals would cost billions in public funding and could create mass relocations and associated social upheaval and economic pain, or not deliver on the core objectives,” said Keller.
“Airlines are also highly supportive of the inclusion of an optimisation strategy, with Sir Howard acknowledging that this is not only an issue of airlines adding more flights to meet increasing demand, but also about improving resilience and the customer experience,” he added.
Naturally both Heathrow and Gatwick have welcomed Davies’ interim report, while Stansted Airport’s owners MAG believes it still has a “critical role” to play in supporting growth.
The chief executive MAG Charlie Cornish said: “Stansted welcomes the Commission’s support for measures to increase capacity at the airport in the short term, including improving rail links between the airport and central London. We also support the commission’s finding that Stansted is one of the viable options for a runway beyond 2030. As London continues to grow to the East and high-tech industries along the London to Cambridge corridor grow Britain’s economy, Stansted has a critical role to play in supporting the country’s economic growth.”
Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive Craig Kreeger backed the Heathrow expansion despite having flights from both the London airports: “Although Gatwick is a very important airport to us, additional runway capacity there does not address the UK’s chronic hub capacity shortage. The passenger mix at London’s hub will always include point-to-point and connecting, business and leisure passengers. Attempting to substitute point-to-point capacity for capacity at the hub may be more politically expedient but it is not commercially viable.
“Commissions and consultations have come and gone, and political wrangling has failed to translate into action. It is vital that when Davies reports the final recommendations, a firm and final decision is taken to increase hub capacity and the UK’s competitiveness,” he added.
Davies’ reportr was also praised by ABTA, whose head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso said: “ABTA supports the commission’s conclusions that additional capacity is required to meet demand, and the best way to do this is through a UK hub. We welcome statements in the report that acknowledge the importance of not artificially redistributing passenger traffic to suit political objectives. ABTA also welcomes the package of measures suggested by Sir Howard for improving surface access: additional surface connectivity is key to improving the passenger experience.”
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