BA backs third runway for Heathrow

British Airways is backing calls for a third Heathrow runway saying that it would boost the UK economy by £37 billion.

Research by the airline has suggested that a third short runway at Heathrow would generate £37 billion of economic benefits for the UK over a 50-year period. A short third runway at Heathrow and a second runway at Gatwick would generate £65 billion of benefits with just two new runways. No other single runway option would create such wealth, says BA.

However, the airline went further and warned that building three or four new runways in one location, to create an alternative hub at either Stansted or Cliffe, would cost more, have greater financial risk and provide fewer economic benefits.

BA made its announcement in response to the government’s consultation on airport infrastructure. BA says that in due course, as passenger demand rises, the extra Heathrow runway should be followed by additional runways at other London airports with Gatwick to be given priority over Stansted.

BA has now urged the government to make the issue a top priority and called for a comprehensive package of public transport improvements to be built at the same time as airport developments.

BA chief executive Rod Eddington said: “Ignoring Heathrow or trying to split its operations between two airports in the South East will dilute its economic benefits and undermine employment centres. It will also reduce the number of international routes served from London and deny access from the British regions to the country’s aviation hub.

“We also need an effective planning system, so new developments are built sooner rather than later, and a radical overhaul of the compensation system for those people adversely affected by these developments.”

(GMcG)