Airports Commission report receives support from industry
Dale Keller (right), chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), which presents the widest international voice of the airline industry, said: “The Government now needs to evaluate the independent findings of the Airports Commission and to expediently act upon their recommendations. Now is the time for everyone, including politicians of all parties, to pull together in the national interest and support the bold plans to expand and improve airport infrastructure at Heathrow in order to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s most important aviation hub.
“Since the major cost of funding the expansion will ultimately be borne by passengers, it is essential that the final scheme is viable and cost-effective for future generations and does not burden today’s passengers with excessive airport charges.”
John Cridland (left), CBI Director-General, said: “Now that Sir Howard’s Commission has made its recommendation, the Government must commit to the decision now, and get diggers in the ground at Heathrow swiftly by 2020.
“Growing airport capacity in the South East is absolutely critical to the whole of the UK’s economic future - it simply isn’t an optional “nice to do”. Each day the Government delays taking the decision, the UK loses out as our competitors reap the rewards and strengthen their trade links.
“Creating new routes to emerging markets will open doors to trade, boosting growth, creating jobs and driving investment right across the country. Our research shows that eight new daily routes alone could boost exports by up to £1 billion a year.
“The UK’s economic future cannot be kept waiting on the tarmac any longer. By taking the decision now, the Government can send the message, loud and clear, that Britain is open for business.”
Mick Rix, National officer for the the union for airport workers, GMB, said: "More capacity is needed at both Heathrow and Gatwick and both airports can benefit from further investment with operators at both committed to decent well paying jobs. Heathrow is currently operating at 98% capacity.
"The politicians have to grasp this issue as over 76,000 people are employed directly at Heathrow, and another 38,000 local jobs rely on it. Without a third runway Heathrow would fall into decline and in a short space of time, face closure."
A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson said: "The CAA welcomes the Airports Commission's recommendations, which represent an important step in increasing the UK's aviation capacity.
"As the UK's independent aviation regulator, we have consistently made the case that the UK needs more aviation capacity in order to prevent consumers facing higher airfares and more disruption in the future. However, we have also been clear that it is equally important for industry to improve its action on tackling aviation's environmental challenges. This includes much better support for communities who are regularly disturbed by aviation noise and we are encouraged that the Commission has put this at the heart of its recommendations.
"We will now study in detail the Commission's recommendations and provide independent information and expertise as required."
James Stamp, global head of aviation at KPMG, said: "We welcome the final publication of the Davies commission findings. A significant amount of time, effort, and energy has been spent at arriving at the conclusions.
"The Politicians must now act and act decisively. The case has been comprehensively examined and further delays - for what can only be for purely political reasons - act to further reduce the UK's competitiveness, connectivity and attractiveness as a place to do business."
Christopher Choa (right), UK Director at engineering design firm AECOM, said: “We welcome the Commission’s recommendation to increase capacity at Heathrow. Heathrow is an extraordinarily valuable national and urban asset. As the UK’s only international air hub, it’s the logical and practical place to expand. Every new destination with regularly scheduled flights at Heathrow supports 3,000 jobs. Growth of Heathrow’s international hub capacity is essential for the long-term resilience of London.
“By connecting more effectively with other emerging and growing economies, growth at Heathrow supports the UK’s growth. In an increasingly urbanised and globalised age, collaboration and sharing of resources, talent and high-value trade are essential to maintaining our leading position in a competitive global market.
“The Commission’s finding that there is sufficient demand to justify a second additional runway by 2050 leaves the door open for expansion at Gatwick. Like Heathrow, Gatwick is an airport that is also constrained by lack of runway capacity.
“The best way forward for London, the region and the country is to allow both Heathrow and Gatwick to expand. These two airports are very specialised, with Heathrow the country's only international hub, and Gatwick the region's premier point-to-point airport. They do very different things, but expansion at both puts UK plc on the strongest footing. Expanding both airports is the most viable way to address the UK’s aviation capacity before London falls further behind its global competitors in Europe and the Middle East.
“Decades of paralysis by successive governments have led to the current aviation capacity crisis in the South East. Swift, decisive action is now needed. Continuing indecision could stall the UK’s economic growth at the very time the government is seeking to augment it.”
Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of the manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, said: “Heathrow is a global freight hub and the clear preference for manufacturers with a business need for aviation expansion. Today's recommendation that Heathrow should be allowed to expand is the right one for industry and the country.”
“We now have a recommendation that has already taken a Parliament to make and the government now needs to get on with the job of implementing it. The aim must be for planning permission to be granted before the end of this Parliament.
“Lessons need to be learned from the current approach as we cannot afford to leave such major decisions to the last minute again. The government should commit to undertaking a full assessment of longer-term UK infrastructure requirements as part of the National Infrastructure Plan process. This would look ahead over the next three parliaments at the infrastructure challenges that will need to be addressed.
“This process would take forward the work of the Airports Commission on the additional aviation capacity increases needed by 2050. It would also ensure future infrastructure and aviation requirements, including regional airports, are identified before they become too late. This would allow broad scrutiny and input from all interested parties.”
Yet the decision as to where aviation capacity will finally be found rests with the government.
Duncan Field, head of planning at global legal practice, Norton Rose Fulbright commented: "When many were expecting its recommendations to be fudged the Airports Commission has given its clear backing for a third runway at Heathrow on the basis of its significant economic benefits. The environmental conditions which are attached to this are challenging but by no means fanciful, building as they do on existing initiatives in the aviation industry.
"Given that a third runway at Heathrow was backed in the 2003 Air Transport White Paper, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Commission hasn't changed much but the process has resulted in a better proposal for Heathrow and a refreshed, more robust analysis supporting the expansion of the airport.
"However, we still do not have a government policy position and the process leading to that will be time-consuming and unpredictable. This and the credibility of the case for a second runway is why the expansion of Gatwick is still on the table. For both airports the question is whether to wait for government policy to be established or use the considerable evidence base which the Commission has produced to begin the equally time-consuming process of securing development consent for their proposals."
Heathrow Hub, the independent proposal to expand Heathrow by extending the northern runway, welcomed the decision by the Airports Commission to select Heathrow Airport as the location for expanding UK airport capacity but was disappointed that rather than select its own proposal it instead chose Heathrow Airport Ltd’s north west runway, the 'third runway'.
Captain William 'Jock' Lowe and his fellow Directors of Heathrow Hub, said: “Heathrow Airport is the correct location for expansion for the UK. Our economy, our national transport infrastructure and our international connectivity will be vastly improved by the expansion of Heathrow Airport. While we obviously still believe our own concept to extend the runways is superior to Heathrow Airport Ltd.’s third runway option, we congratulate John Holland-Kaye and his team.
“We recognise that the Commission has spoken but we will continue to liaise with ministers and civil servants to ensure our proposal is properly understood as a cheaper, simpler and more politically deliverable option.
“From the beginning we have maintained that Heathrow is the answer and, while we still believe our proposal is cheaper, simpler and more politically deliverable, we are relieved that the Commission has made the correct decision in terms of location. Heathrow is where the airlines want to be; it’s where the demand is.
“In addition my fellow directors and I would like to thank Sir Howard Davies and his team for running a generally thorough process to answer the question posed to them by the government. ministers must now decide how to proceed, and we urge the government to implement airport expansion as swiftly as possible for the sake of the UK economy.”
Ben Vogel, Editor of IHS Jane's Aviation Review, said: “The decision by the Airports Commission to back a third runway at Heathrow is not very surprising, as it always seemed to be the path of least resistance and had the backing of UK businesses and airlines.”
“However, the battle is not over: Gatwick may seek a judicial review of the Commission’s findings, anti-expansion activists are doubtless planning similar challenges and direct action, and several high-profile figures in the ruling Conservative Party (notably Boris Johnson) have made it clear that a third runway at Heathrow is undesirable.”
“The debate will continue, regardless of today’s announcement. To paraphrase Winston Churchill: Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
