The government is running out of momentum on the building of a third runway at Heathrow, an ABTA spokesman has warned.
ABTA public affairs spokesman George Blundell-Pound, who is filling the role on a temporary basis, said political will is dying for the project. He said the Labour government is running out of steam, and the Conservatives, who are likely to come to power next year, are opposed to the runway.
He added: “The momentum is running out over the third runway at Heathrow.
“We haven’t had a new runway built in the UK for decades, and the longer this goes on, and with a change of government, the delays will simply continue.
“Building runways is not a vote winner, so you have to believe firmly that the benefits to the economy outweigh the damage to the environment.”
Blundell-Pound made the comments following the release of a new Economic Impacts of Hub Airports report by the British Chambers of Commerce. The report forecasts that the third runway would deliver between £8.6 billion and £12.8 billion in increased productivity due to a reduction in delayed flights.
The study, released this week, concluded a further £20 billion would be generated in wider economic benefits over a 60-year period, with as much as 60% of this additional cash going to the regions outside London and the southeast.
Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association spokesman Sandy MacPherson welcomed the report, claiming the additional runway would help restore domestic services, which have dropped to such an extent that Heathrow is connected to only six regional airports compared to 21 at its peak.
He added: “If that third runway doesn’t go ahead, then we will see problems with capacity domestically as flights are redirected to (more lucrative) long-haul and European destinations.”
Leading businessmen have already voiced their opposition to the runway.