Member Article

Long-term aviation policy needed to address capacity issues

The Government must come up with a clear long term policy to address capacity issues at major airports, or risk falling behind European counterparts, say representatives from the British aviation industry.

Next month the UK is set to launch a consultation document on aviation, which is expected to include a call from BAA for a third runway at Heathrow.

A group of representatives from BAA, British Airways-owner IAG, Virgin Atlantic, Manchester Airports Group, the Trades Union Congress and the Chamber of Commerce believe that the Government should implement a new policy now, and should consider options favoured by the industry, including a third runway.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: “We have had years and years of inactivity on aviation policy which shows this government and previous ones are out of touch with the impact of aviation on the economy.

Heathrow is currently operating at full capacity, after the development of a third runway was blocked when the Government came into power in 2010. However, a third runway would be funded by the aviation, rather than industry.

While campaigners against the third runway are concerned that further expansion would mean a dramatic increase number of planes flying directly over the capital, pro-expansion supporters believe that the new study will help the Government rule out the option once and for all, or rethink opposition to the proposals.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .