ABTA against new airport in the South East

Friday, 18 Oct, 2002 0

ABTA Convention Special: ABTA is backing the government’s proposals for a third runway at Heathrow, but is pushing for extra capacity at Gatwick.

Speaking at the ABTA Convention, chief executive Ian Reynolds (right of picture) said: “We are disappointed that the government is not including a Gatwick option. This is a blow for both tour operators using the airport and consumers living in the South East. Consequently, ABTA would like to see a new runway at Gatwick after 2019.”

An agreement made in 1979 outlaws further development at Gatwick until 2019.

Mr Reynolds added that ABTA was against the proposal for a new airport at Cliffe in the South East. He said: “It is too costly, lacking in infrastructure and would cause the greatest environmental damage.”

ABTA held an Air Transport Forum in September, attended by tour operators, charter airlines, specialist operators and agents. It found support for three new runways – one each at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, but if Gatwick was ruled out, then two at Stansted. Delegates at the Forum also supported an extension of the runway at Luton.

Mr Reynolds said that the public should pay for the environmental damage created by the expansion of airports in the South East, currently met by Air Passenger Duty (APD). He said that ABTA proposed a switch to a different tax system, because an additional tax on top of APD, “would penalise the leisure traveller in particular and disenfranchise the public.”

It is the first time ABTA has gone public on its views of the government’s proposals for airport capacity in the South East. The proposals appear in a White Paper that will be published next year, outlining a plan for UK airports covering the next 30 years.

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