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 “all over the place” 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.

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

“Flights to Manchester and Leeds are less than 3% of Heathrow’s current operation. The runway capacity this would free up would be swallowed almost immediately by natural growth.

“And even this tiny and temporary benefit would not be forthcoming until 2027.

“So the Conservatives apparently want to undermine the UK’s efforts to succeed in a global economy - and condemn Heathrow to permanent status as the most delay-prone airport in Europe.

“Without extra runway capacity, Heathrow will never have any slack in the system �" and the tiniest disruption will cause knock-on delays all day.

“Don’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.

“A 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.

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

“High-speed rail should be seen as complementary to air travel, not a substitute for it.

“That 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.

“Only 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 Heathrow’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 “extreme vulnerability” to knock-on delays �" and lose its label as the most delay-prone airport in Europe.

“The third runway proposal has been subject to continual public scrutiny since the Government’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. “


By Bev Fearis