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23 Jan 2002
Commenting on Transport Secretary Stephen Byers' suggestion that news reports about new runway and airport capacity in the South East are "pure speculation" Paul de Zylva, Aviation Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“These press reports about new runways are part of a Government campaign to soften up public opinion - despite Mr Byers' denials. And his proposals to overhaul the planning system and reduce the public's right to object to schemes such as these should alarm everyone especially people living in those areas."
“Mr Byers is right to say that "tough decisions"
have to be made about airport capacity. The tough decisions start with
standing up to the aviation industry, stopping pandering to its constant
demands and stopping pretending that the UK airlines and airports are
competing or losing out to Europe. That argument simply does not stack
up." [1, 2]
[1] British Airways have explored mergers with Air France and Dutch KLM.
[2] London is by far the busiest international airport with 115 million passengers a year (mppa) even without Terminal Five which is expected to add at least 30 mppa. Heathrow has almost 50 million more passengers a year than Paris - its next European 'competitor' in fifth place - with 73 mppa behind London, Chicago, Tokyo and Atlanta. Frankfurt is in ninth place with 49 million passengers a year. Amsterdam is not even in the top ten.
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