Business and travel industry leaders have welcomed the government’s revised National Policy Statement on Heathrow expansion, but leading airlines challenged the cost of the planned third runway.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling confirmed government support for a third runway to the northwest of Heathrow to Parliament today.
The expansion could almost double the airport’s freight capacity and add 260,000 more flights a year.
CBI deputy director-general Josh Hardie said: “It’s fantastic that the new runway at Heathrow is getting closer to take-off.
“Expanding our aviation capacity, and creating new flight routes to rapidly growing markets, is critical to ensuring Britain can compete on the post-Brexit world stage.”
Hardie added: “Our aviation capacity is set to run out as early as 2025, so it’s crucial we get spades in the ground as soon as possible.”
However, British Airways’ parent group IAG said in a statement: “The Government has missed an opportunity to provide the UK with the airport it needs at a price it can afford.
“The Civil Aviation Authority has the responsibility to curb Heathrow’s excesses and inefficiency.
“We will be looking to the regulator to protect customers and keep charges flat in real terms.”
Dale Keller, chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) UK said: “We hope that decades of delay and procrastination will soon come to an end and we can secure cross-party support in the House of Commons. It is time for politics to be taken out of this debate.”
But Keller added: “UK and international airlines will continue to hold Heathrow Airport to account over the details of the scheme, in particular its cost and affordability.
“We’re pleased the transport secretary has made the ambition of expanding the airport whilst keeping passenger charges at today’s levels his number-one priority.
“We will continue to push for more clarity from Government as to how it will use the planning process to provide more clarity on cost.”
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger said: “We applaud the Government’s decision.
“As the UK’s only hub airport, an expanded Heathrow is uniquely placed to enable a transformative increase in airline competition for passengers.”
Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) chief executive Adrian Parkes also welcomed the news, saying: “The development of a third runway at Heathrow is key to realising ambitions for growth.
“The time for debate is over. We now urge the Government to act swiftly in turning plans into reality.”
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), stressed the need for “connectivity to both established and emerging markets right across the country” and the need for “both world-class hub and point-to-point capacity.”
Dee said: “The Government’s planned Aviation Strategy now needs to set out a clear framework for aviation growth across the UK, ensuring airports have the capacity to better link communities and businesses with domestic and international markets.
“This will require a roadmap for improved surface access, the modernisation of UK airspace as well as a presumption in favour of sustainable development of new capacity.”
The Airports National Policy Statement sets out:
• “The need for additional airport capacity in the south-east of England.
• “Why the government believes that need is best met by a north-west runway at Heathrow Airport.
• “The specific requirements that an applicant for a new north-west runway will need to meet to gain development consent.”
The government said: “Development consent will only be granted on the basis that the new runway is delivered within existing air quality obligations.”
It also promised “legally enforceable noise restrictions”, a “6.5 hour scheduled night flight ban” and “a package of compensation and mitigation measures to support those affected by the expansion”
However, the Aviation Environment Federation questioned the government’s requirements.
It said: “The truth – buried in the small print of the Government’s analysis – is that an expanded Heathrow would mean unavoidable environmental damage for decades to come.
“The Government still can’t answer the most basic environmental questions about this plan.
“It can’t explain how a new runway can be compatible with our climate change commitments; it can’t guarantee that the project won’t worsen the currently illegal levels of air pollution on London.”
Mark Tanzer, Abta’s chief executive welcomed the announcement and urged parliamentary support, he said: “While Abta recognises that expansion must be delivered in a sustainable manner, constraints on airport capacity in the South East, in particular Heathrow, severely inhibit the UK’s ability to grow.
“In 2017, 78 million passengers passed through Heathrow, 67% on leisure trips and the rest on business. It is currently operating at almost 100% capacity.
“Airport expansion will boost the wider UK economy, creating thousands of jobs and delivering the increased connectivity the UK needs, especially in a post Brexit world. However, it is also important that consumers aren’t burdened with the costs of expansion and that additional capacity is delivered in a cost-effective manner.”
Heathrow chief executive, John Holland Kaye, said: “Together with our supporters across the country, we urge all MPs to vote for expansion.
“Their votes will connect all of Britain to global trade, increase competition and choice for passengers and create tens of thousands of new skilled jobs for future generations. The world is waiting for Britain. It’s time to vote for Heathrow expansion.”
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey: “Heathrow expansion, one of the biggest construction projects in Europe, answers the demands of many Unite members across the UK – for more skilled, well-paid and sustainable jobs.
“Expansion will deliver these jobs and growth to every nation and region of the UK, whilst Heathrow deliver on the work they have been doing to address environmental concerns; all at a critical time for UK workers.
“I would strongly urge Members of Parliament to vote in favour of expansion at Heathrow.”
British Chambers of Commerce director general, Dr Adam Marshall: “Business communities across the UK want an end to decades of political indecision and an unequivocal green light for Heathrow expansion.
“A resounding vote for Heathrow expansion in Parliament would do more than just unlock this crucial infrastructure project, as it would give a huge boost to business confidence and investment at a time of significant change.”
British Airline Pilots’ Association general secretary, Brian Strutton: “Balpa welcomes the government’s commitment to expansion at Heathrow and reminds all policy makers that airport capacity around the whole UK needs improving.”
Stansted chief executive, Ken O’Toole: “It is vital for the UK economy that the country has the best possible aviation connections and that there is an urgent need to actively support airports, like London Stansted, that can deliver that access now.
“Over the last five years we have increased passenger numbers by nearly 10 million, doubled the number of airlines and secured six new services to the most popular destinations for passengers from the region including Dubai, New York, Boston, Toronto and Washington.
“Building on these successes, we are investing £600 million to improve the airport experience and have submitted a planning application to make best use of our single runway. This will unlock Stansted potential and enable us to serve up to 43 million passengers, deliver 50% of London’s expected passenger growth over the next decade and extend the choice of airlines and destinations we serve.”
Manchester airport chief executive, Andrew Cowan: “Government must now match its support for a third runway at Heathrow with specific and practical proposals to maximise the potential of airports like Manchester in the period to 2030 – the earliest the third runway is likely to be delivered – and beyond that.
“This includes support for schemes like Northern Powerhouse Rail, which will dramatically improve access to the north’s primary international gateway and help secure dozens more direct long haul services to key overseas economies.
“Manchester airport is investing more than £1 billion in transforming its facilities and unlocking the spare capacity on its exiting two full-length runways.
“It is clear, therefore, that is has a vital role to play in meeting the UK’s demand for connections to global markets at a time when other major airports will have run out of capacity.
East Midlands airport managing director, Karen Smart: “The government must now match its support for Heathrow with specific and practical proposals to maximise East Midlands airport’s global connectivity in the period to 2030, including support for better rail connectivity serving East Midlands Parkway, and backing regional transit infrastructure to link the proposed HS2 Toton to the airport.”
Jock Lowe, director of alternative extended runway scheme Heathrow Hub: “We are working really hard with Parliamentarians to ensure the mistakes made by the Department for Transport are rectified and that the extended runway is included in the National Policy Statement.
“We are confident that unlike the third runway, we can meet the four tests set by the Labour party on noise and environmental impacts, capacity, emissions and regional benefits.
“As our scheme would take four years less to build, it would actually save time to include it in the National Policy Statement.
“Our scheme has always been in the national interest and our principal investor, Anthony Clake, has promised to give any profits to charity.”
American Express Global Business Travel Northern Europe vice president and general manager Jason Geall: “It appears that common sense is prevailing.
“With the prospect of Brexit driving the need to strengthen UK trade connections around the world, businesses and their travellers need the broadest possible global network and reliable, regular services − an expanded hub airport is a key enabler. It’s vital that the right consultation processes are followed, but further delays should be minimised.
“In this current environment of uncertainty, a government matching its words with solid decisions on critical infrastructure schemes goes some way to providing reassurance for businesses and the UK economy.”
More: Heathrow third runway construction ‘could begin in 2021’