Heathrow has welcomed a speech from Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP last night, stating the Government intends to back a new runway in the South East by 2030, the whole of the UK will benefit from the extra connections it will provide, and that the current capacity constraint is costing "business and jobs."
The Secretary of State was speaking at the British Air Transport Association (BATA) annual dinner in London.
Excerpts from SoS Patrick McLoughlin:
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"Nothing will change the fact that without action, London’s aviation network will be full by 2040."
"But constrained capacity is already costing us business and jobs.
"With every new air route to the Far East or South America, Paris, Frankfurt and Dubai are making themselves more attractive to investors."
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"Of course I know that many in the industry were disappointed that we delayed the final decision. It wasn’t something we took lightly. But when opponents of expansion hailed the delay as some sort of victory."
"They could not have been more wrong. The decision was delayed because it was the right thing to do. The responsible thing to do.
"To make sure we’re fully prepared. So we know from the outset that we will get the job finished."
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"We also need it for the benefits it will bring to the wider UK economy. One of the most persuasive arguments for new capacity is the links it will provide to the north, the south west, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."
"Opponents have tried to suggest that a new runway would somehow undermine our domestic network.
"In fact the reverse is true.
"Wherever we decide to build new runway capacity. You can be sure that local economies throughout the UK will benefit. With more flights, more routes, and more connections."
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The full speech can be found here.
The UK Government's Airports Commission found that expanding Heathrow would provide significantly greater events across the whole of the UK than any other option.
A Heathrow spokesperson said in response to the speech:
“We fully agree with government that the whole of the UK must reap the benefits of airport expansion. Only Heathrow can connect Britain to the world, delivering up to £211bn in economic benefit with a third runway, up to £114bn of which will be spread outside London and the South East to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England."
"That’s why we’re backed by more than 30 Chambers of Commerce in every region and nation, over 30 British airports and a majority of MPs. We stand ready to deliver this privately funded infrastructure project as soon as we get the green light.”
