Eddington paints bleak picture of UK aviation industry

BRITISH Airways chief executive Rod Eddington has painted a dark picture for Britain’s aviation industry at the annual Aviation Club lunch held today in London.

Eddington called for further investment in Britain’s airport infrastructure, in particular at Heathrow, to ensure the nation can compete against other European airports.

Eddington said: “Here’s a vision of British aviation in 2020. Scenes at Heathrow like the Director’s Cut of Blade Runner, even more crowding and even more congestion than today.

“Tourists and foreign business people will have their first experience of Britain at Heathrow, and it’ll be like the Northern Line in rush hour. That’ll be their first experience of Britain when they arrive, and their last impression when they leave.”

Eddington said there was hope for Britain’s future as a leading aviation nation and compared the country to Hong Kong, which saw massive industrial growth when it opened Hong Kong International on Lantau Island.