Report says Heathrow doesn't need to be a 'hub airport'
Heathrow has traditionally been seen as a 'hub airport'. Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
A new report by the chief executive of Birmingham Airport says that the Government should expand regional airports elsewhere in the country instead of Heathrow. Paul Kehoe says having a single hub airport like Heathrow "has become rigid aviation orthodox" and wants to examine alternative solutions.
He claims that adding a third runway at Heathrow would only boost passenger capacity by a small amount. Mr Kehoe added that expanding regional airports would help to rebalance the economy away from the South-East.
Passengers pass a BAA sign at Heathrow Airport in London Credit: Reuters
World airlines are shunning the UK due to capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport, according to a survey.
As many as 53% of scheduled airlines have either decided to, or are preparing to, base flights in other countries than the UK because of Heathrow's lack of capacity, the poll showed.
World airlines are shunning the UK due to capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport, according to a survey.
As many as 53% of scheduled airlines have either decided to, or are preparing to, base flights in other countries than the UK because of Heathrow's lack of capacity, the poll showed.
And 86% of airlines said they would put on more flights to the UK if additional take-off and landing slots were available at Heathrow, the survey from the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK revealed.
"Plain Daft" Not To Consider New Runway At Heathrow
A plane comes in to land at Heathrow Airport. Credit: Toby Melville, Reuters
Two of the country's biggest unions have joined forces with the Institute of Directors to urge the government to increase airport capacity.
The GMB and Unite unions warned that 140,000 jobs were at risk unless urgent action was taken.
They said that Heathrow was "perfectly positioned" to act as the South-East's hub airport, branding the idea of an island airport in the Thames Estuary a "vanity project".
They said that the UK economy could be losing £8.5 billion a year by 2021 unless something was done to help businesses access world markets.
Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary, said: "It is madness to think that the UK can muddle on without a top-quality international hub airport.
"Heathrow is perfectly positioned to fulfil that role and deliver all the associated economic advantages. Decisive action to maintain the airport's status is needed now.
"What is certain is that the country does not have the time nor the money to pursue vanity 'island airport' projects.
"Our economy desperately needs an airport infrastructure which is better than the patchwork provision we currently have around the capital."
GMB and Unite unions want Heathrow expansion Credit: ITN
Two of the country's biggest unions have urged the government to increase airport capacity, warning that 140,000 jobs are at risk. The GMB and Unite unions say it's daft to rule out the expansion of Heathrow, and have called the idea of a Thames Estuary airport a vanity project.
The Transport Secretary officially opened the capital's newest Airport today. London Southend has been given a new Terminal and a longer runway as part of a £100million upgrade. Could this be the answer to London's air traffic problem? Our Business Correspondent Glen Goodman has been finding out.
Staff help unveil the new expansion Credit: ITV News
From Business Correspondent Glen Goodman: Southend Airport has reopened after a huge expansion programme which has seen it go from running a Saturday flight to Jersey to handling 70 flights a week for Easyjet. It will also run 10 flights a week to Ireland with Aer Arann.
They hope to have 2 million passengers per year by 2020.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening will open a new terminal at Southend Airport this morning. It's part of a 100-million-pound development which also includes a runway extension.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening will officially open a new terminal at Southend Airport this morning. It's part of a 100-million-pound development which also includes a runway extension.
