Rivals hit back at Heathrow’s bid to remain top UK hub
CHALLENGER airports hit back at Heathrow’s bid to remain Britain’s major hub airport yesterday, arguing any plan for extra air capacity “needs to look to the future and not to Heathrow’s monopoly past”.
Gatwick, owned by Global Infrastructure Partners since 2009, said adding a second runway to its airport would be better for the environment and more practical for passengers than an enlarged Heathrow.
And Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe said Heathrow’s report showed the need for a network of airports across the country.
The comments follow a piece of research commissioned by Heathrow that claimed the UK economy is losing £14bn a year thanks to less than optimal air capacity.
Interest groups are setting out their stalls as the Davies Commission examines the options for improving air links on behalf of the coalition.