Virgin supports extra Heathrow runway
Sir Richard calls on Government to show courage over decision
Virgin Atlantic has thrown its weight behind the early building of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
The carrier has stated its preference for the development of additional airport capacity in the South East. The airline’s preferred options, in order of preference, are: 1. A move quickly to full mixed-mode use of Heathrow’s existing runways; 2. The speedy development of a third, short runway at Heathrow (with associated passenger handling facilities) as soon as possible; 3. The earliest possible development of a second runway at Gatwick; and 4. The development of additional runway capacity (should that still be necessary) at either Stansted or Gatwick.
Virgin Atlantic does not support the construction of a new hub airport at Cliffe in North Kent, or the development of Stansted into a second hub airport for the UK in competition with Heathrow. A spokesman for the airline said: “Neither of these options are economically viable or sustainable without the enforced closure of Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and the consequent economic and social costs that such a move would have. Furthermore, the construction of Cliffe and possibly of a mega-Stansted would do more harm to the environment than the development of Heathrow, Gatwick and more restrained development of Stansted.”
Sir Richard Branson added: “Alistair Darling showed real courage in starting this consultation process and he must demonstrate it again when he publishes his White Paper later this year. The UK, and Heathrow in particular, is in serious risk of losing its pre- eminece in European and world aviation. Business, tourism, trade unions, air users and the aviation industry all demand a clear commitment from Government to the development of new runway capacity and a detailed timetable for its delivery.”
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