BAR UK: “Only Heathrow has capacity issue”
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Only Heathrow Airport faces a capacity problem in the south-east with airlines keen to develop routes from the ‘hub’ airport, according to a new survey from the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK).
A survey of 51 airline members found 38 had only seen capacity issues at Heathrow and 12 had not considered looking to other airports as a consequence.
More than half had diverted flights to hubs in France or Germany instead of the UK in the past two years due to constraints and would continue to develop there then add flights to an airport other than Heathrow.
“Our survey confirms what we have been saying all along, that it cannot be assumed that additional flights will be operated from other UK airports where space is not available at the Heathrow hub. It is hard to see how the Airports Commission can solve anything in the short to medium term when the reality is, that airlines are already free to grow at other UK airports whenever sufficient consumer demand exists to make each route commercially viable,” said Dale Keller, chief executive of BAR UK.
“What seems to be missing in this debate is that an airport is an unmoveable asset and it is the airlines and their route networks that bring the tarmac and terminals to life and create a hub. Airlines are choosing to fly to hub airports and that is where the UK must take action for the sake of the entire UK economy,” he added.
Heathrow: “No easy fix”
Heathrow Airport itself said there was “no easy fix” to the capacity issue and rejected a mixed mode operation in the short term for its impact on nearby residents.
The airport warned that restrictions around planning and physical space mean short-term solutions are minimal and warned against the mixed mode use of its runways as those living nearby will have little time with no noise from the airport.
It has proposed other measures that would reduce the noise impact and improve punctuality including changing operating procedures and redesigning the airspace.
“The Airports Commission has a challenging task in its bid to find short term solutions to long term problems. The only real solution to a lack of runway capacity at our hub airport is to build another runway,” said Colin Matthews, chief executive at Heathrow.
“We are not proposing the use of mixed mode as a short-term measure because of the impact on local communities of ending periods of respite from noise. We are listening to local residents’ concerns and we are working hard to develop new long-term solutions that can deliver additional flights whilst also reducing noise.”
Gatwick Airport has asked the commission to promote competition at London’s various airports and improve rail services to the airports.
“Gatwick is already leading the way in making the best use of its single runway and attracting new routes. However, to enhance this work, and encourage greater use of the spare capacity London does have today, it is key for the Airports Commission to encourage competition between airports through a more flexible approach to setting price, service and quality levels,” said Stewart Wingate, CEO at Gatwick.
“By enabling competition, we can encourage new airlines to start services to key short and long haul destinations and ultimately more passengers to travel,” he added.