05 December 2008

ââ¬ËœDisappointmentââ¬â¢ over delay in third runway decision

Online flight price comparison firm Cheapflights has voiced ââ¬Ëœdisappointmentââ¬~ at the government delaying a decision on at third runway at Heathrow.

The company was responding to the announcement from transport secretary Geoff Hoon that a decision on expanding the London hub had been put back until January (see previous TravelMole story).

Cheapflights' CEO Chris Cuddy said: "Coming so soon after the Air Passenger Duty increase, Cheapflights wonders how serious HMG is about maintaining Britain's competitive position in the international economy.ââ¬~

He described increased landing and take-off capacity for London as a ââ¬Åâœwin, win situationââ¬~ for the UK - as well as for the local economy and jobs market. 

ââ¬ÅâœIt will be good for passengers; good for airlines desperate to keep operational costs down; good for the environment through the improvement of air traffic control and reduction of ground handling delays; and above all good for the UK as an international business centre and international aviation hub,ââ¬~ said Cuddy. 

ââ¬ÅâœThe Government needs to take the right macro-decision to go ahead with runway three in the face of well-meaning but mistaken lobbying from local, environmental and political groups opposed to expansion."   

A spokesman for Heathrow owner BAA said: "Given the complexity of the issues involved, we understand why the government is taking further time to consider these matters.

ââ¬ÅâœWe welcome the fact that the Government has now committed to making a decision in January on how we keep Heathrow and this country globally competitive by maintaining our direct access to the world."

by Phil Davies 

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• Cheap and nasty
  
  

  I agree with Mr Phillips. a third runway is unecessary and unwaranted for London. How about building additional capacity in Birmingham? The most central airport in the UK and least populated! Then the international competitiveness of the UK, local jobs and work so required by our poor beleaguered airline industry and so wanted by Cheapflights would be protected. We don't build runways and blight the lives of thousands of people living under the new flight paths just because BA wants a new toy.

  By Alexander Carraro, Friday, December 5, 2008
• Nonsense!!
  
  

  Try telling people in the flightpath that they are "well meaning". What an insult to their intelligence, especially from a man who runs a company called "Cheap Flights"! Our international competitiveness is based on many more factors than a strip of asphalt on our green an pleasant land. Try improving our rail network for starters.

  By Gary Phillips, Friday, December 5, 2008