Heathrow Airport expansion plans: the case for
By Clive Soley of Future Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport and one of our country’s most important economic assets. Like it or not, the UK is part of a global economy and efficient international aviation links are vital to high-value world markets. Having the world’s busiest international airport on our doorstep has undoubtedly contributed to London’s success as a financial centre, but that success should not be taken for granted.
The problem is that Heathrow is full. It is currently operating its two runways at 98.5% of permitted capacity. By contrast, Frankfurt Airport has three runways, Paris Charles de Gaulle has four runways and Amsterdam Schipol has five – all operating at less than 75% capacity. Since 1990, the number of destinations served at Heathrow has fallen from 227 to 180. Over the same period, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris have all increased their destinations significantly.
This leaves Heathrow in a vulnerable position: without further growth, Heathrow will not be able to meet the demands of travellers and airlines will switch routes to Heathrow’s competitors. Heathrow’s lack of capacity also leads to more frequent delays and limits the airport’s ability to cope with unforeseen disruption.
Some people say that the environmental costs of Heathrow outweigh its economic benefits, but if Heathrow doesn’t grow, then Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris will eagerly step forward to offer the routes that Heathrow cannot. This will not provide any climate change benefits, but would severely damage the UK’s global competitiveness and UK jobs: Heathrow by itself employs 72,000 people and supports another 100,000 jobs right across Britain. The Stern report indicated that we can stop catastrophic climate change without inhibiting economic growth. What is needed is a planned response, rather than a panicked one.
The government has also made it clear that a third runway would only be permitted if strict environmental limits could be met. The noise footprint cannot exceed 2002 levels, additional public transport has to be put in place and local air quality must meet EU standards. It will also consider whether aviation is paying the costs of its CO2 emissions before giving the go-ahead for growth.
In a globalised world, business, capital and employment can be relocated more easily than ever before. It is a harsh fact, but in order for the British economy to be fully competitive, Heathrow must be free to compete with its rivals in Europe and that means building a third runway. No business or economy can stand still – they can either meet the demands of a changing global economy or they can decline.
Clive Soley is Campaign Director for Future Heathrow, a coalition of businesses, trade unions and the aviation community who support the sustainable growth of Heathrow.
Heathrow Terminal 5 Special Report
The case against aviation expansion
"Aviation is the fastest-growing source of climate change emissions. Although the industry now pays lip-service to ideas of sustainability, it is unable, or unwilling, to grasp the simple truth that the planned expansion of the UK’s airports is not compatible with what needs to be done to tackle climate change." Read more...
