Heathrow Airport is installing a high-tech computer software system to help improve flight punctuality.
The airport’s operator, BAA, says the £5m system will help cope with the influx of passengers during the Olympic Games.
According to reports in the Financial Time, the software enables "real-time sharing of flight data between BAA, airlines, baggage handlers and air traffic controllers".
The FT reported BAA’s head of airside activities at Heathrow, Tim Hardy, as saying that the technology would mean that aircraft should spend less time on taxiways waiting for take-off, cutting airlines’ aggregate fuel bills by £10m a year and reducing annual carbon emissions at Heathrow by 30,000 tonnes.
He said the move would also strengthen the argument for a third runway at the airport because Heathrow will be seen to be running to the highest possible standards.
Last week, David Cameron signalled a U-turn in the Government’s policy on a possible third runway (see previous story).
