Five cars stolen from Edinburgh Airport car park
19.06.08
Green campaigners have called for plans to expand Edinburgh Airport to be scaled back in the wake of soaring oil prices, the Scotsman reports.
According to its published masterplan, Edinburgh Airport could almost treble by 2030, with land being reserved for a possible second runway and the Highland Showground being forced to move to allow BAA to build yet more airport parking. The figures estimate that 22.5 million passengers a year will be using Edinburgh Airport by 2030. This forecast is based on an assumption that oil prices today are only $60 a barrel – $70 cheaper than actual prices.
However, research by environmental charity WWF has suggested that millions of passengers will be put off flying due to higher ticket prices caused by soaring oil prices. Its calculations suggest that even with a conservative assumption of $106 a barrel in 2030 there will be a 15 percent reduction in the growth of air passengers, or three million less than first thought.
Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, told the newspaper: ‘The projections for passenger numbers are pie in the sky, based on estimated oil prices which border on the fantastical. Given how dodgy the Government's figures are, every airport in the UK needs to look again at their own plans for expansion.'
‘The planet can't afford and Edinburgh doesn't need an additional runway. Instead we should be helping cut climate-wrecking air travel wherever possible.’
Government and airport chiefs have dismissed the claims and said the price of oil was just one factor which will impact on future passenger growth. They argue that projected economic growth over the coming decades will see an increase in demand for flights, including a big jump in business travel.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport told the newspaper: ‘Our long-term forecasts are based on a wide range of economic factors, of which the price of oil is just one. The suggest that passenger numbers will continue to grow at Edinburgh over the period.’
A Department for Transport spokeswoman added: ‘The forecasts set out in 'UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts' demonstrate the long-term growth in the UK and world economy will generate increasing demand for business travel. There remains a strong need for additional airport capacity in the UK.’
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