Treasury concerns over Stansted runway
The Treasury has reportedly cast doubts over plans to build a second runway at Stansted, saying it is concerned that BAA cannot finance such a development on a “standalone” basis.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the opinion was expressed in the High Court, where documents were disclosed as part of a legal challenge by Essex and Hertfordshire councils.
A statement by treasury official Sam Beckett reportedly referred to a document about financing new runways at Heathrow and Stansted.
She is quoted as saying: “It is apparent … that the Treasury was concerned that a new runway at Stansted might not be financeable on a standalone basis by 2012.”
The Telegraph reports that the Treasury calculated landing charges would have to double at Stansted, to £6 per passenger, if they were “smoothed” over 30 years.
BAA has reportedly disputed the figures, with a spokesman telling the Telegraph that a second runway could be built by raising charges per passenger “by the price of a Starbucks coffee”.
Opponents to the runway were encouraged by the Treasury statement.
Brian Ross, economics adviser to the Stop Stansted campaign, is quoted as saying: “BAA has said they won’t build the runway unless there is a business case. These documents cast doubt over whether there is one.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025