44 . Glasgow Business April 2015
Heathrow expansion is backed by the Chamber
Benefits of a second runway include the addition of 40 long-haul routes G
lasgow Chamber of Commerce has backed Heathrow Airport’s bid to be chosen as the London airport to expand its capacity.
In its submission to the Sir Howard
Davies-led Airports Commission, Glasgow Chamber said that while direct flights from Glasgow Airport are its preferred option, it recognised the benefits to the city business community of a UK hub airport. Te submission says that a London hub is
preferable because of the extent of business interaction between Scotland and London, which in turn supports the frequency of flights to the hub airport. Te submission states: “Hub airports are
vital in providing access to international markets and to atract inward investment, trade and tourism and Scotland’s dependence on hub airports is evidenced by CAA research showing that 40 per cent of international and 70 per cent of long-haul passengers reach their final destination indirectly.” Heathrow’s expansion plan is backed as
against the other option of a second runway at Gatwick Airport because: »Heathrow offers the greater number and frequency of international connections, including 75 destinations that cannot be reached from any
other UK airport. It will also add 40 more long-haul routes if its expansion is supported. » Two fiſths of the 870,000 passengers flying from Glasgow Airport to Heathrow fly onwards overseas – compared to only one fiſth of the 615,000 flying to Gatwick. » It has 120 onward destinations available through the One World Alliance of major international airlines – three times the number available from Gatwick. Glasgow Chamber asked the Commission
to “consider closely” the impact that its decision would have on the ready availability of international connections with effective through ticketing from elsewhere in the UK. It also warns about the implications for the
effectiveness of a UK hub if a decision is made to split the range of destinations between the two London airports. Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow
”We are committed to continuing to push for the protection and growth of Heathrow slot access”
Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are supportive of additional runway capacity in London and seek that additional capacity at Heathrow as the UK’s principal hub airport. “In addition, we are commited to
continuing to push for the protection and growth of Heathrow slot access to support Glasgow and the West of Scotland’s international competitive positioning.” Te Commission has now closed its
consultation on the shortlisted options for the future of airport provision in the south east of the UK. Te UK Government established the commission in November 2012 to look at the capacity required to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s most important aviation hub. Te initial short-listed options were for a
new runway for Heathrow, a new runway for Gatwick and the extension of an existing runway at Heathrow. During the 12-week consultation the
Commission said that it had received more than 50,000 responses from a broad cross section of individuals and organisations. Full details of the consultation will be
published in the summer – aſter the UK May General Election – along with the Commission’s final report.
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