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What now for Heathrow?
Heathrow’s position as the “world’s premier international airport” could be in real jeopardy if the government opts to build a new runway at Stansted, according to the Guild of Business Travel Agents (GBTA). The Guild is the latest industry body to criticise the government’s likely decision to opt for a new runway at Stansted in Essex instead of Heathrow because of air quality concerns. The GBTA had previously submitted a document to the government as part of the consultation process explaining its support for Heathrow. GBTA chief executive Philip Carlisle has now sent a further letter to transport secretary Alistair Darling condemning the suspected Stansted decision, saying that the government has wrongly allowed “a small but vocal minority” to get its own way at the expense of “the greater good.” Mr Carlisle said: “It is a fundamental tenet of any business that you take new products to market – you don’t try to take the market to the new products. This may work economic wonders for Bishops Stortford, but not for Britain. A Stansted runway is a squandered runway.” Local Stansted MP Sir Alan Haselhurst agrees. He reportedly told the Bishop’s Stortford Citizen: “The fact is that if the Government goes for Stansted over Heathrow it will be signing the death warrant of the civil aviation industry of this country.” Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are expected take legal action if Stansted is chosen in favour of Heathrow. They are likely to argue it is illegal for them to pay higher landing charges to pay towards construction at an airport they do not use and which will benefit their competitors. Meanwhile according to a report in The Telegraph today, low cost airlines will face a 70% rise in landing charges to help to finance the £4 billion construction cost of a second runway at Stansted. It says the average charge of £2.89 per passenger is likely to rise to the permitted maximum of £4.89, a rise of 69%, and increase again after 2008. The Government is expected to announce its decision in a White Paper later this month. What do you think? Should Stansted be chosen as the site for a new runway instead of Heathrow? Post you comments on the bottom of this article
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