UK needs to expand airports, says industry lobby

The UK government's decision to rule out building further runways at airports in the southeast of England could seriously undermine Britain's connectivity and competitiveness, according to a report.

The coalition government which took office in May cancelled plans for a third runway at London's Heathrow airport and said it would block runways at Stansted and Gatwick as part of a programme for a low-carbon economy.

In its report "Rethinking Aviation", the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) acknowledged the need to address the environmental impact of unrestrained growth in demand for air travel but said the government must consider long-term airport infrastructure needs, reported Reuters.

"Air transport and airport infrastructure are vital for the UK's international connectivity and prosperity. As a trading island nation and popular tourist destination we depend on our ability to connect with the rest of the world," said ICE aviation expert Simon Godfrey-Arnold.

"World class airport infrastructure helps attract inward investment, enables access to an international labour force and provides direct business and leisure links to growing economies around the world like China, Brazil and India."

ICE – whose members design and build bridges, roads, railways and large buildings – warned that capacity constraints could result in international carriers abandoning Heathrow, Britain's biggest airport, in favour of larger and more economically attractive northern European hubs.

BAA, a unit of Spanish builder Ferrovial, owns Heathrow and Stansted. Global Infrastructure Partners, founded by Credit Suisse and General Electric, owns Gatwick.

While aircraft innovation must be stepped up so that in the long term the industry can contribute to emissions reductions, the government should initially look to make emissions cuts elsewhere, Godfrey-Arnold said.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)