Heathrow to keep Rudd as its chairman
HEATHROW Airport’s parent company will renew Sir Nigel Rudd’s contract as its chairman until 2016, keeping him on board as the airport navigates the government’s looming decision on airport expansion.
Sir Nigel, an industry veteran, has decided to stay with Heathrow Airport Holdings to help fight the case for a third runway, according to Sky News.
Investors are also reported to be keen to keep Sir Nigel in the post, and he has made a decision to stay after Invensys, which he also chairs, agreed to be taken over by French firm Schneider – a deal that would see him lose his board seat at the engineering group.
The government has set up a commission, run by Sir Howard Davies, to look at various options for Britain’s future air links. The panel is not due to report its final recommendations until 2015.
Heathrow has drawn up three preferred designs for a third runway at the west London site, claiming it is the best choice for a British hub airport.
But rivals such as Gatwick and Stansted are also keen to expand, while a new scheme to build a four-runway hub in the Thames Estuary has gained influential backers including Boris Johnson.