The total cost of expansion – runways, terminals and associated development costs – continues to increase and seriously undermines the economic justification of expansion at a time when the environment challenge has increased significantly.
International Airlines Group (IAG) is calling on the Prime Minister and new government to commission an independent assessment of Heathrow’s expansion costs.
The airport is set to get the green light from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this week to spend hundreds of millions of pounds of airline customers’ money on early construction costs before any planning permission is granted or the scheme’s final costs are known. The CAA decision was made before the election and without independent scrutiny as the regulator is basing its decision on estimates provided by Heathrow Airport Ltd. These estimates have increased by more than 250 per cent in the last two years.
The total cost of expansion – runways, terminals and associated development costs – continues to increase and seriously undermines the economic justification of expansion at a time when the environment challenge has increased significantly.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, says “We need a fresh look at the environmental viability and total cost of expanding Heathrow. The airport has a history of spending recklessly to gold-plate projects and paying guaranteed dividends to shareholders while minimising the environmental significance of expansion.
“Boris Johnson wants to make Britain more competitive. Allowing an expanded airport that is considerably more expensive than our European neighbours would be an own goal as we need to compete on the world stage. An independent study would ensure Heathrow expansion is cost-effective and stop the CAA, as regulator, allowing consumers to be taken for a ride. To ask customers to stump up vast sums in advance for a runway that may not get built, based only on Heathrow’s cost proposals, is unacceptable”.
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
