12/05/2003

Call made for three more runways in south east

The British Airports Authority (BAA), the company which runs the UK's top airports, has called for three new runways to be built in the south east over the next 30 years.

The call was made in response to the government's consultation on aviation capacity in the south east (SERAS), and BAA has said that a "prompt decision" is needed.

According to BAA, there are four candidates from which the government should choose its three options: a short runway at Heathrow for use by short-haul aircraft; a second runway at Gatwick; and up to two additional runways at Stansted.

BAA's chief executive designate, Mike Clasper, said: "This is a critical decision for the UK. If we do not provide the infrastructure for aviation to grow, we will cause significant damage to our country's international competitiveness.

"We cannot have a dynamic aviation industry without a strong airport sector, which plans for long-term growth. We can't afford to see in aviation the problems we have today on our railways."

The company has also consulted with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and others to identify issues associated with future runway development. A nine-page joint statement by BAA and the SRA will also be published today as part of BAA's submission to the government.

Among the environmental issues considered in BAA's submission were land take, noise and air pollution. BAA said that its approach to development was based upon the government's four principles for sustainable development.

However, Norman Mead, Chairman of Stop Stansted Expansion, claimed that the company "simply wants to line its shareholders’ pockets".

HE added: “The economic case would disappear overnight if the airlines did not enjoy the favouritism which the government provides by way of tax free fuel and VAT exemptions. And the environmental consequences for the area around Stansted would be catastrophic if the government was ever to allow BAA to get away with these proposals.”

BAA's latest call for extra runways comes 10 days after the company issued for consultation its £8.4 billion London airports' capital investment programme for up to 2013/14.

The plans are designed to increase the capacity and quality of the three regulated London airports' facilities and build the fifth terminal for Heathrow.

Annual UK passenger numbers for the next 11 years, are forecast to grow from 109.3 million, to 157.6 million in 2013/14.

(GMcG)

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