Air traffic controllers also claim they have a quick way to increase Heathrow capacity
Air traffic controllers have warned the Government against building a new airport on the Kent coast at Cliffe, saying such a move would limit capacity at other airports in the south east.
According to a report in the Financial Times, National Air Traffic Services (Nats) wants the Government to concentrate on adding new runways to existing facilities, and that the highest priority should go to Heathrow.
The organisation has also called for “mixed use” of the runways at Heathrow; at present one main runway is used for take-offs and the other for landings. This has the effect of reducing noise in the area, but also limits capacity; Nats says a mixed usage would “alleviate the current congestion pending further development with a possible third runway”.
More specifically, it believes such a move could increase the airport’s capacity by as much as 10 per cent. The Government’s consultation process on increasing airport capacity in the south east ends on Monday; the White Paper on the subject is due to be published by the end of the year.
