02 October 2008

BA boss hits out at Tory plans for Heathrow

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has slammed the Tory party over its plans for a rail link to replace a third runway at Heathrow.

He accused the Conservatives of being ââ¬Åâœall over the placeââ¬~ on aviation, claiming that some in the party were opposed to expansion, others want to build a new national hub in the Thames Estuary and a third group back Heathrow.

ââ¬ÅâœThe latest idea that a rail link from Leeds and Manchester to Heathrow would be an adequate substitute for a third runway beggars belief,ââ¬~ he told an audience in the City of London.

ââ¬ÅâœFlights to Manchester and Leeds are less than 3% of Heathrowââ¬â¢s current operation. The runway capacity this would free up would be swallowed almost immediately by natural growth.

ââ¬ÅâœAnd even this tiny and temporary benefit would not be forthcoming until 2027.

ââ¬ÅâœSo the Conservatives apparently want to undermine the UKââ¬â¢s efforts to succeed in a global economy - and condemn Heathrow to permanent status as the most delay-prone airport in Europe.

ââ¬ÅâœWithout extra runway capacity, Heathrow will never have any slack in the system ââ¬' and the tiniest disruption will cause knock-on delays all day.

ââ¬ÅâœDonââ¬â¢t just take my word for it. Two weeks ago, 100 leading companies and business organisations launched a public declaration of support for a third runway.

ââ¬ÅâœA third runway at our national hub airport is essential for jobs, wealth creation and the future economic success of this country in a globalised economy.

ââ¬ÅâœThe Conservatives may have an election to win. But they must not forget that if they are successful, they will have a country to govern.

ââ¬ÅâœHigh-speed rail should be seen as complementary to air travel, not a substitute for it.

ââ¬ÅâœThat is why Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt airports already have high-speed rail links. And by 2011, they will also have four runways each - while Heathrow struggles on with two.

ââ¬ÅâœOnly a third runway, providing a capacity increase of about 40%, can give Heathrow the room it needs to grow and improve operational performance on a permanent basis."

He said the extra capacity was essential:

- to reverse the 20% decline in Heathrowââ¬â¢s route network since 1990

- to make room for economically vital new connections to Asia and South America

- to create firebreaks for operational recovery, so that Heathrow can lose its ââ¬Åâœextreme vulnerabilityââ¬~ to knock-on delays ââ¬' and lose its label as the most delay-prone airport in Europe.

ââ¬ÅâœThe third runway proposal has been subject to continual public scrutiny since the Governmentââ¬â¢s consultation paper first outlined it six years ago. On the existing timetable, the runway would not open before 2020. The last thing we need is further delay. ââ¬Åâœ


By Bev Fearis

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• Cheapflights Supports BA re Tory Plans
  
  

  A third runway at Heathrow is a win, win situation for the UK. It will be good for passengers, good for the airlines desperate to keep operational costs down; good for the UK Inc. as an international business centre and good for the environment through the avoidance of air traffic control and ground handling delays. Meantime Heathrow should hasten to adopt 'mixed mode' operations at Heathrow to optimise existing runway use until a third runway can be built. Governments are responsible for ensuring that infrastructure meets the needs of a country. However, the concept that high-speed rail links to Leeds and Manchester, commendable as stand-alone projects, can meet the needs of the UK as out-lined in the Government White Paper is naïve to say the least. A third runway is the most immediately achievable solution to the major capacity problems now facing Heathrow - Chris Cuddy, CEO, Cheapflights Ltd. 2 October 2008

  By John Barrington-Carver, Thursday, October 2, 2008