1st Jul 2015 09:06
LONDON (Alliance News) - The independent Airports Commission on Wednesday gave its backing to the expansion of Heathrow airport after concluding that the move would deliver the most economic benefits to the UK.
Ryanair Holdings PLC immediately issued a statement in response saying the proposal doesn't go far enough and won't solve problem of restricted airport capacity in the South East.
The commission, set up in 2012 and led by economist Howard Davies, said a third runway at Heathrow, with a ban on night flights, would be the best way to boost the country's economy and secure the UK's future as a prominent player in the global aviation market.
The report said the third runway at Heathrow, the most expensive and the most politically controversial of the three options tabled to expand airport capacity in Britain, would generate up to GBP147 billion for the economy over 60 years and create 70,000 new jobs by 2050.
The recommendations from the commission said the proposal to extend Gatwick, a less politically contentious idea, was "plausible" but said that failing to expand Heathrow would put the UK aviation sector's position at risk. The third option, which was to extend one of Heathrow's two existing runways, also was rejected.
Davies did, however, say that the expansion of Heathrow should only proceed with a "significant package of measures" to mitigate the impact of another runway on local communities and the environment. That would include a ban on all flights between 1130 pm and 0600 am, a legally-binding cap on noise levels, a levy to fund more generous compensation for those living under the flight path and an independent noise regulator.
Kenny Jacobs, the chief marketing officer Ryanair, said in response that the Irish budget carrier backs an even bigger three-runway solution, by which Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted would be able to build three competing runways and which would involve politicians being taken out of the process.
Jacobs said the company thinks this would solve the capacity issues facing the South East for the next century and would allow competition between the airports to deliver this capacity efficiently.
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
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