Commons committee endorses Heathrow, Gatwick expansion
Tuesday December 8, 2009
The UK House of Commons Transport Committee issued a report yesterday endorsing a third runway at London Heathrow "subject to the effective application of tough environmental conditions," while suggesting that Gatwick, rather than Stansted, would be a better choice for a second runway after 2019.
In addition, it called on the government to "ensure that the UK's major airports, particularly Heathrow, are connected to a future high-speed rail system." Chairman Louise Ellman (L) argued that LHR "is a major European hub airport but only six UK cities have flights into it. Even with expansion, we need to improve direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network in order to maximize the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts."
The committee also asked for "decisive effort" to remove "older and noisier" aircraft from service and for "higher environmental standards," and expressed concern that government must "be mindful of the vulnerability of the aviation industry in the current economic climate" and "competition from other European airports" when setting the Air Passenger Duty. Additionally, it called for an increase in the Air Travel Organizers' Licensing fee, which protects customers in case of airline insolvency, and asked that it be "extended to cover all international flights and not merely package holidays."
by Brian Straus
ATWOnline
Tuesday December 8, 2009
The UK House of Commons Transport Committee issued a report yesterday endorsing a third runway at London Heathrow "subject to the effective application of tough environmental conditions," while suggesting that Gatwick, rather than Stansted, would be a better choice for a second runway after 2019.
In addition, it called on the government to "ensure that the UK's major airports, particularly Heathrow, are connected to a future high-speed rail system." Chairman Louise Ellman (L) argued that LHR "is a major European hub airport but only six UK cities have flights into it. Even with expansion, we need to improve direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network in order to maximize the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts."
The committee also asked for "decisive effort" to remove "older and noisier" aircraft from service and for "higher environmental standards," and expressed concern that government must "be mindful of the vulnerability of the aviation industry in the current economic climate" and "competition from other European airports" when setting the Air Passenger Duty. Additionally, it called for an increase in the Air Travel Organizers' Licensing fee, which protects customers in case of airline insolvency, and asked that it be "extended to cover all international flights and not merely package holidays."
by Brian Straus
ATWOnline