Britain needs more airport runways in South East England if its national and regional economies are to remain an attractive location for global companies, according to…
Britain needs more airport runways in South East England if its national and regional economies are to remain an attractive location for global companies, according to BAA`s chief executive, Mike Clasper.
Clasper told the annual conference of Europe`s airport operators (the Airports Council International) that London was in danger of falling behind its continental competitors in terms of airport infrastructure. In Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, governments and planners had faced up to the consequences of rising public demand for aviation.
What we are desperate to avoid in Britain, is for our aviation industry to follow the failed route of delay, congestion, infrastructureand decline that our railways have taken, he said.
Expansion was vital for the UK`s overall economic competitiveness and also for the ability to spread economic growth and wealth across the UK. Regional access to London`s airport system was, said Clasper, a neglected but critical aspect of the current debate.
At present, he said, the UK nations and regions are very well served by connections to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and City, but as congestion increases there would be an issue about connections between regional airports and slot-constrained airports like Heathrow and Gatwick.
A critical question that the UK Government has to answer is how to continue to provide the UK`s regions with international air links to the rest of the world.
Referring to his own previous position as a senior executive with Procter and Gamble, based in Newcastle, he said: For global companies, with major activities in the regions, the loss of access to a domestic hub means a loss of access to its markets. If those are lost, then businesses like P & G won`t simply switch to hubbing via Schiphol or Paris – these busineses will pack up and move there, or to London.
Hubbing is as essential for regional economic development and competitiveness as it is for national competitiveness, he said. Domestic services into the capacity constrained airports, such as Heathrow and Gatwick, support regional competitiveness, spreading economic growth and wealth throughout the regions.
On 12 May 2003, BAA submitted its response to the Government`s consultation on aviation expansion over a 30 year time frame. The company called for the phased of up to three new runways in the South East of England with an urgent decision on the first. BAA supports responsible growth by which it means an approach which balances economic, social and environmental concerns.
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