BAA warns of threat to service if planning permission denied

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal: TWUK	Section:
Title:	Issue Date: 21/08/00
Author:	Page Number: 22
Copyright: Other

 

 

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Terminal expansion

 

BAA warns of threat to service if planning permission denied

 

Report by LOUISELONGMAN

BAA has issued a stark warning that the quality of passenger service will be "unavoidable and unacceptable” if its UKairports fail to receive additional planning permission.

 

Its warning comes as each of the group's seven UK airports, except Aberdeen, experienced their busiest-ever month in July, with a record 12.7 million passengers passing through. A rise of 6.8% on last year.

 

BAAis calling for major new terminal facilities at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted due to rising passenger numbers.

 

The company is also awaiting permission to build Terminal 5 at Heathrow following its initial planning enquiry in 1995, claiming the terminal is essential for service quality improvements.

 

BAA chief executive Mike Hodgkinson said: "We are totally committed to continuing to provide the country with the high-quality airports it needs. But we can't do that without timely planning consents for the investments that need to be made.”

 

Stansted led the group's development with a 24.7% increase in July. It is serving nearly 11 million passengers a year and is set to expand its terminal to accommodate 15 million passengers a year by 2002.

 

Heathrow recorded 6.2 million passengers passing through last month, an increase of 5% compared to last year, and has served 63 million people for the 12 months to date. Gatwick saw a 6% rise in numbers in July and is serving more than 31 million passengers a year. BAA spends £1 million a day on improving facilities and services for passengers.