THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE I 39 The Review ➔ UK aviation's growing pains
IT'S BACK. The airport capacity issue, never one that's far from the headlines, is on the agenda again, writes Roger Gardner. After the new government declared its airports policy was to be guided by the maxim ‘better not bigger’, aviation stakeholders have been debating what the future holds for the capital’s airports infrastructure. Enter Boris Johnson and a January report entitled ‘A new airport for London’. This report, the first of a pair, addresses the capacity challenge head-on and promises a follow up report on the Mayor’s proposed solutions later in the year. His preference for a new airport is clear. It will come as no surprise that environment pressures will be a key element in the national debate that the Mayor is pushing. If there were no adverse impacts, doubtless there would already be additional runways in the South East, whether at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or at a new hub airport. The Mayor’s report comes to the
clear conclusion that there is a good economic case for additional airport capacity. At the heart of this conclusion is the threat he sees to the economic attractive- ness of the UK to foreign business. While Heathrow has greater passenger throughput than its near continental rival hubs of Amsterdam, Pairs CDG and Frankfurt, it serves fewer destinations and is also falling behind on the numbers of aircraft movements. Inability to grow capacity – both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are full – adds to delays, weakens global connectivity and threatens the efficiency of global businesses that are based in the UK. That is one side of the coin. The
THE GREEN WATCH
be accommodated if the UK 2050
CO2 targets were to be met. At the current rate of growth, that headroom in passenger numbers will be used up by the mid-2020s. And where do those additional people fly to and from in the South East anyway? Only Stansted and Luton have much unused capacity as things stand. Granted, with aircraft size growth, improved efficiencies and usage of remaining runway space, it might be possible
to squeeze
“It is clear that addressing airport capacity is a painful nettle for government to grasp”
much of that latent demand through the South East airport system, but it will be an increasingly uncomfortable experience. All the indications are that airports
other side to consider is the local environmental impacts and long- term sustainability issues. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) determined at the end of 2009 that only an additional 60 per cent growth in passengers could
across the Channel will continue to grow and take ever greater market share from the UK, both economically and in terms of airport expansion. Even if we accept that more air traffic is good for UK plc, we are far from working out how to deal with the additional climate and
local impacts. New aircraft technology will help as will better management of air traffic, while alternative fuels may also address the climate challenge in part, but they will not go the whole way. Add to that genuine local concerns about noise and air quality impacts and it is clear that addressing airport capacity is a painful nettle for government to grasp. These issues are currently on the plate of the government’s South East Airports Task Force that involves key players and we are promised consultation on future airports policy over the coming year or so. Dealing with the environmental impacts will feature prominently in what will doubtless be a lively debate. The ‘elephant in the room’ is perhaps the big question that requires a national debate. What do we value most, a future in which economic demand is satisfied but there are higher environmental impacts, or potential loss of economic momentum but a greener future? Whether these options are mutually exclusive is itself an issue of contention. Few would argue with the rationale behind the 1987 Brundtland Commission definition of sustainable develop-
ment which says development to meet our needs should not compromise those of future generations. But do political, cultural and commercial pressures all conspire to make that almost impossible? Can we achieve aviation growth without unaccept- able environmental impacts? And with aviation being a global network, whatever we want to do in the UK will be affected by wider international considerations. If you are reading this page, you
must have a vested interest in the airport debate. If you live near an airport you will probably have a different view from those who do not. And if your work is dependent upon air travel or you want to fly off on holiday you will have a certain view. However, simply as a citizen of this country and with a view to the future, be it the economy or environment that bothers you most, you have a vested interest in what happens. The Mayor has stirred the pot a
little with his report and his next one, which is likely to propose a new airport site, will do so again. We can be sure that this topic become ever more contentious over the next few months and it justifies a national conversation. Do get involved.
46 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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