Former BMI owner says airport capacity constraints ‘hugely damaging’ economy
30.10.11
The Government's refusal to allow expansion at South East airports will damage the UK economy, according to the former owner of the airline BMI. Conservative peer and party donor Lord Glendonbrook, who as Sir Michael Bishop owned the carrier BMI, says new runways are needed at the London airports Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
The coalition Government ruled out new runways, at least for the current parliament, when it came to power and the new Transport Secretary campaigned against a third runway at Heathrow. It is set to publish its vision for ‘sustainable growth’ in the UK aviation industry next year and has said that it wants airports to be ‘better’, rather than simply bigger.
During recent consultation airport operator BAA said the UK could lose out on trade with emerging markets worth £1.4bn a year if Heathrow is not allowed to expand. Lord Glendonbrook told the BBC's Politics Show: ‘There is a strong and sound - both environmental and economic - case to continue building at Heathrow. The idea of having no development of existing airports in the south east is going to be hugely damaging to the country and to the economy.’
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