Open Skies talks put Heathrow Capacity Centre-Stage

03.11.05

AN AGREEMENT between the EU and the US over transatlantic flying rights will stoke up pressure for the provision of more runway slots at Heathrow, Lord Soley said today. The peer, Campaign Director of Future Heathrow, said liberalisation of the transatlantic market could lead to more flights between Heathrow and America at the expense of UK domestic services. “Unless Heathrow is allowed to expand, there will not be enough runway slots to allow more carriers to operate between Heathrow and the US while maintaining the existing short-haul network,” Lord Soley told the conference of the Airport Operators Association. EU and US aviation regulators are due to resume discussions on November 14 in Washington in an effort to reach an agreement. Under the current rules, two US and two UK airlines are permitted to fly between Heathrow and US cities. A new accord could open the market to all EU and American operators. Lord Soley said: “There is a very real danger that vital services between Heathrow, the North of England and Scotland could be squeezed out unless liberalisation is accompanied by a firm commitment to a short third runway.” Failure to invest in new infrastructure over the last 30 years had already undermined Britain’s domestic air network. “Britain is slipping out of the aviation premier league. Few people realise that it is now possible to fly to more regional British cities from Amsterdam and Paris then it is from our own national hub at Heathrow,” the former Labour MPs’ chairman told delegates in Bournemouth.. “Twenty-one regional British cities are connected to Amsterdam, 19 to Paris and just 9 to Heathrow. Soon we will be overtaken by Rome, Milan, Munich and Madrid. “Does this matter? Most definitely it does. Look at Amsterdam’s website and see how well they understand the role of a city airport. You will see that they have a strategy for the development of the airport and recognise its enormous significance for the high tech development of the Dutch economy. You will see how they are aware of the environmental challenges and how they plan to address them. “Many British regional airports are waiting for Heathrow to provide a third short runway for regional connections. The regional airports will continue to lose out unless they can access Heathrow. Trying to develop regional airports without expanding Heathrow is at best a lost opportunity and at worst an absolute gift to our continental competitors. “It is vitally important that we address airport policy in the context of a vision for North West Europe. To lose our key position would be very damaging to the British economy and profoundly damaging to London and the Heathrow region. “I find it very depressing that some local councils see airports as a problem rather then an opportunity. We need a new agenda between local authorities and airports. Of course they have to address concerns of local residents about noise and pollution but they also need to understand that airports generate jobs and prosperity. They are also a key driver for local education. “While aircraft emissions have to be addressed on a national and international agenda there is no reason why we can’t adopt a strategy of aiming to make the non aircraft side of airport operations carbon neutral. “Heathrow is a classic example of the local authorities and local population assuming that because it is big and been there so long it will continue to lay the golden eggs of prosperity and high tech employment. This is a dangerous complacency. “Heathrow cannot stay as it is. It must expand or it will decline. So why not be proud of one of our great economic assets and plan for an environmentally sustainable airport that leads the world as we have in the recent past? Or shall we let our continental competitors take over and allow Heathrow to sink into gentle decline?” End Notes to Editors 1. Future Heathrow is a campaign organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the national economic importance of Heathrow Airport and to encouraging the airport’s sustainable expansion. 2. The group’s members include the CBI, TUC, London Chamber of Commerce, TGWU, GMB, Thames Valley Economic Partnership, bmi, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and representatives of overseas airlines. 3. Lord Soley was a west London MP (Clive Soley) for 16 years until May 2005. Further information is available from Lord Soley on 07785 250 456.

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