Heathrow expansion gets business leaders’ backing

Hundreds of business leaders have written to the UK Prime Minister to back plans for expansion at Heathrow, saying limited airport capacity is holding back UK growth.
More than 270 business leaders, ranging from industry associations to high-street brands, signed the letter calling on the government to back the Airports Commission’s recommendation to build a new runway at Heathrow over expansion at Gatwick.
The letter said: “This lack of hub capacity is holding back the growth of UK businesses who want to fly directly to emerging markets; trade and transport their goods via air freight; create more jobs and connect to the UK’s regions.
“The Commission is clear: further delay will be increasingly costly and will be seen, nationally and internationally, as a sign that the UK is unwilling or unable to take the steps needed to maintain its position as a well-connected open trading economy in the twenty first century.
“Now is the time for Government decision and action. Your Government must support UK businesses by implementing the Airports Commission’s recommendation and expand Heathrow.”
Gatwick, meanwhile, issued has its response to the Airports Commission’s recommendation calling some of the findings flawed.
Chair of the Gatwick Airport Board Sir Roy McNulty said: “Our view has always been that the assessments on which the Commission’s conclusions are based must be thorough, balanced, fair and well evidenced.
“We believe that the Commission’s report falls short of this standard in a number of very important respects. As a result, the many strengths of Gatwick and the many challenges of Heathrow are underplayed, leading to a conclusion which we believe is flawed.”
Last week, environmental protesters against Heathrow expansion managed to cause delays at the airport when they gained access to the runway area.