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Britain will suffer for 'a generation' without Heathrow's third runway, says BA

Britain will suffer for a generation without Heathrows third runway, says BA The British economy will suffer for a generation if plans for a third runway at London Heathrow are not approved, British Airways (BA) has claimed.

According to the Evening Standard, BA chief executive Willie Walsh said yesterday at the Airport Operators Association conference: "The probability is that if the current opportunity to expand our national hub is lost, the UK will suffer the consequences for at least 30 years."

"In the meantime, we would have condemned Heathrow and the global connectivity of the UK economy to further relative decline," explained Mr Walsh.

He added that "rejection of the project would leave Britain without a hub airport to match the capacity of rivals in Europe and the Middle East for at least a generation".

Mr Walsh also dismissed plans put forward by London Mayor Boris Johnson for a new airport in the Thames Estuary as just an "un-fundable fantasy".

It is expected that the government will next week rule in favour of the third runway plans despite opposition from some MPs, alongside environmental and protest groups.

Ed Anderson, executive chairman of the operators' association, told the Evening Standard: "Aviation is a crucial part of the economy."

"Abandoning runway three is a step on the road to economic suicide," he added.

BA has also announced that it has sealed a partnership with technology giant Thales to provide next generation in-flight entertainment systems to all planes in the fleet.

This includes BA aircraft being fitted with enlarged LCD screens featuring individual multi-media system offering 100 films, 300 television programmes as well as radio shows.


Airport News posted on 20 November 2008

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