Feature: UK Airports Update
AT LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport recently, under a plaque commemorating the city’s beloved Beatle with the words ‘Above us only sky’, someone with a sense of humour – or perhaps just an Everton fan – had scrawled ‘Below us only West Ham and Wolves.’ Liverpool Football Club’s fall from grace might
have earned the city’s airport a mention in the ‘And finally…’ slot of regional news programmes, but more often than not the UK’s airports are also hitting the headlines for negative reasons. Strikes, natural disasters, government legislation and, more sinisterly, security alerts – such as that recently experienced at East Midlands Airport – have all pitched the country’s airports into the news this year. Air Passenger Duty controversially rises this month, while passengers flying from Durham Tees Valley Airport will feel doubly hard done by as it also introduces a £6 'passenger facility' fee, following in the footsteps of several other UK airports – Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich among them. BAR, the Board of Airline Representatives, is among those taking a hard line on APD rises, with chief executive Mike Carrivick calling on the Treasury not to implement any further increases since “the airline industry and its customers cannot afford the international competitiveness of the UK to slide any further.” The coalition government’s decision to scrap
plans for a third runway at Heathrow was undoubtedly a turning point for UK aviation, though what lies in store for the future remains to be seen. Speaking at the Airport Operators Association’s annual conference in October, the Secretary of State for Transport, Phillip Hammond, announced plans to develop an aviation policy, issuing a scoping document in the New Year, followed by a full public consultation in early 2012. While the plans were broadly welcomed, BAR’s Carrivick expressed concern about the timescale discussed. “Right now there is a huge policy vacuum regarding aviation in the UK,” he says. “The decision to ban any new runway capacity in South East England requires a policy that sets out alternative government objectives and strategies – right now there is none. By the time that this consultation is due to be published, responded to and decisions made, it could take another three years.” Carrivick continues, “Airlines are already taking
a hard look at how difficult it can be to trade in the UK and are assessing alternative plans. Air Asia X was reported to be dropping plans to serve Manchester because of APD increases, and another airline is reviewing its commitment to the UK since it is unable to get all the slots it needs for a viable service to Heathrow.” In the background, airports are at least investing in their infrastructure to make themselves more appealing to both their airline customers and their passengers. And in turn, airlines continue to develop their product on the ground to make the airport experience just a little less arduous for their jaded passengers.
Ready for TAKE-OFF
The aviation industry might be riding the storm but that hasn't stopped airports and airlines upgrading their product on the ground, says Andy Hoskins
CAPITAL GAINS Currently home to 90 airlines, serving a total of 179 destinations, London’s Heathrow airport has changed significantly in recent years. March 2008 saw both the official opening of British Airways’ sparkling new Terminal 5 and the arrival of Europe’s first commercial flight operated by the new A380 super jumbo, courtesy of Singapore Airlines. Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 have enjoyed a significant refurbishment, with Virgin Atlantic benefiting from a new-look ‘Zone A’ at T3, while work has also begun on a brand new
Terminal 2, with the first phase of its replacement scheduled to open in 2014 when it will be home to Star Alliance member carriers. The £2.2billion development will cater for up to 20 million passengers a year – compared to Terminal 5’s 30 million capacity – and produce 40 per cent less carbon dioxide than the buildings it replaces. After a lengthy shuffle round of airlines,
Star Alliance members are currently based at Terminal 1, oneworld members at Terminal 3 – which also serves the A380 flights operated by Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Emirates – and SkyTeam airlines are now together at Terminal 4.
60 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 18 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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