The London Daily News

29 March, 2011 01:56 (GMT +00:00)

Coalition aviation policy slammed by businesses, “do not ignore economic benefits of flying”

By Leanne Bennett

The Coalition government have ruled out a much needed expansion for London airports, provoking a backlash from leading business figures who have said in a letter to The Times that “the Government’s forthcoming aviation review cannot ignore the economic benefits of flying”. Despite major investments in the high speed rail service - Cross Rail the Government as yet has no plans to secure the UK’s international connectivity which could potentially boost the economy.

Major airports in London are vastly overstretched yet the government have overturned ideas for a third runway at Heathrow and a second at both; Gatwick and Stansted.

The Times reported; “Our main airports - particularly in the South East – are blighted by overstretched infrastructure, where the slightest disruption results in thousands of passengers queuing in the terminal and dozens of aircraft circling overhead. High Speed Rail will enhance connections to UK and near Europe destinations, but business also needs to reach fast growing markets in the Far East and south Asia”

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London calls for a four- runway airport to be built in the Thames Estuary has been ruled out by government. That is despite “since 2005 the number of destinations served has fallen from 200 to 183. Instead politicians wish to focus on the customer experience and expanding the existing airports Theresa Villiers, the Aviation Minister said; “we have got a coherent aviation policy. We have said very clearly the cost of the building new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted is too high in terms of the environment that is why it is essential that those airports are better rather than bigger. We can improve the way they operate”

Ministers are being urged to consider all options at the forthcoming aviation review “they must not ignore the economic benefits of flying.”

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