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| Airports commission: all expansion models are still on the table for Britain | Airports commission: all expansion models are still on the table for Britain |
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| All options for expanding Britain's airport capacity over the next 30 years are still on the table, including developing a single, massive airport or building new runways near London and in the regions, according to the independent body charged by the government with recommending future aviation policy. | All options for expanding Britain's airport capacity over the next 30 years are still on the table, including developing a single, massive airport or building new runways near London and in the regions, according to the independent body charged by the government with recommending future aviation policy. |
| "At one extreme the UK could focus on a single large airport to act as the sole focal point for long haul [flights] and acting as a hub for connections [to the rest of the country]. At the other, [it] could seek to develop a more dispersed stystem of airports … which would compete with each other," said the Airports commission in a discussion paper published on Thursday. | "At one extreme the UK could focus on a single large airport to act as the sole focal point for long haul [flights] and acting as a hub for connections [to the rest of the country]. At the other, [it] could seek to develop a more dispersed stystem of airports … which would compete with each other," said the Airports commission in a discussion paper published on Thursday. |
| But the paper, which gives no clues on which strategy the commission will finally recommend to government in 2015, accepts that Heathrow cannot be expanded in the short term and that politicians must consider the UK regions when they decide which airports to develop. | But the paper, which gives no clues on which strategy the commission will finally recommend to government in 2015, accepts that Heathrow cannot be expanded in the short term and that politicians must consider the UK regions when they decide which airports to develop. |
| The paper makes no specific mention of the Thames estuary airport proposed by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, but suggests that London would not easily support two major "hubs". | The paper makes no specific mention of the Thames estuary airport proposed by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, but suggests that London would not easily support two major "hubs". |
| "We do not consider that spreading one airline's hub operations over multiple airports in the London metropolitan area is likely to be a successful approach … [but] a complete alliance might find it possible to transfer the entirety of its network to a different airport if the capacity was available." | "We do not consider that spreading one airline's hub operations over multiple airports in the London metropolitan area is likely to be a successful approach … [but] a complete alliance might find it possible to transfer the entirety of its network to a different airport if the capacity was available." |
| The final decision, it says, will have to be weighed against two emerging global trends in air transport. Airlines are consolidating into international alliances working via networks of major "hubs", but equally there has been a massive growth in low-cost and short haul carriers which are opening up large numbers of new routes. It is not clear, say the commissioners, if one will emerge as the future favourite. | The final decision, it says, will have to be weighed against two emerging global trends in air transport. Airlines are consolidating into international alliances working via networks of major "hubs", but equally there has been a massive growth in low-cost and short haul carriers which are opening up large numbers of new routes. It is not clear, say the commissioners, if one will emerge as the future favourite. |
| Britain's choice may be between what is best for the national economy and what the public wants, it suggests. On a national level, the model of a single giant hub airport "theoretically supports" the UK's competitve position relative to other airports. But having several airports competing with each other would make it easier for new airlines to enter the market and potentially benefit passengers with cheaper tickets and more choice, says the paper. | Britain's choice may be between what is best for the national economy and what the public wants, it suggests. On a national level, the model of a single giant hub airport "theoretically supports" the UK's competitve position relative to other airports. But having several airports competing with each other would make it easier for new airlines to enter the market and potentially benefit passengers with cheaper tickets and more choice, says the paper. |
| The commisioners noted that Heathrow is already becoming a "global" airport at the expense of "regional" routes. The scarcity of slots in west London means that the number of destinations served has decreased, as airlines increase frequencies to the most profitable destinations. UK airports served by Heathrow have fallen from 10 in 2000 to only seven in 2013, it says. | The commisioners noted that Heathrow is already becoming a "global" airport at the expense of "regional" routes. The scarcity of slots in west London means that the number of destinations served has decreased, as airlines increase frequencies to the most profitable destinations. UK airports served by Heathrow have fallen from 10 in 2000 to only seven in 2013, it says. |
| "The big fear in places such as Belfast and Edinburgh is that if you only have a constrained airport like Heathrow, it will grow its links to China at the expense of regional flights – and to some extent that's happened," Sir Howard Davies, the chair of the commission, told the Independent. | "The big fear in places such as Belfast and Edinburgh is that if you only have a constrained airport like Heathrow, it will grow its links to China at the expense of regional flights – and to some extent that's happened," Sir Howard Davies, the chair of the commission, told the Independent. |
| A new generation of long-haul planes may also help determine the choice of strategy, the paper suggests. Britain could be relatively excluded from becoming a global hub because the new Airbus A350 and Boeing Dreamliner could enhance the geographical advantages of hubs in the Gulf region. | A new generation of long-haul planes may also help determine the choice of strategy, the paper suggests. Britain could be relatively excluded from becoming a global hub because the new Airbus A350 and Boeing Dreamliner could enhance the geographical advantages of hubs in the Gulf region. |
| Davies said: "The Airports commission will need to give these arguments full and detailed consideration as we develop our assessment of the UK's future aviation requirements. We believe it is particularly important to think about the way the aviation industry will change in the coming decades. Today's industry is unrecognisable from the one a quarter of a century ago." | Davies said: "The Airports commission will need to give these arguments full and detailed consideration as we develop our assessment of the UK's future aviation requirements. We believe it is particularly important to think about the way the aviation industry will change in the coming decades. Today's industry is unrecognisable from the one a quarter of a century ago." |
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