The Transport Committee’s report, Airport Capacity in London, suggests existing airport capacity in London, including at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, could be used more effectively.
2. 1
We collected evidence covering a wide range of views from
airlines, business leaders, environmentalists and other experts,
commissioned external research and visited National Air Traffic
Services (NATS) at Swanwick as part of our investigation.
The Assembly’s Transport Committee has invesigated the issue of
airport capacity in London. The report will feed in to the
Government’s independent Airports Commission.
3. 2
The Airports Commission should show how existing airport
capacity in London should be used more effectively, including
at Heathrow.
Airport capacity, including at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, could
be used more effectively. Luton has 51% and Stansted has 47% of
its runway slots available. Even Heathrow, at 99%, might be able to
fly 20 million extra passengers each year if larger aircraft were used.
4. 3
Better rail connections and active promotion of public
transport options could help increase passenger numbers at
alternative airports to Heathrow. Stansted Airport suggested
that it could attract an extra 1.5M passengers each year if the
journey time from London was reduced from 45 to 30 minutes.
Overcoming barriers to choosing other airports over Heathrow,
such as transport, would need to be addressed to encourage
passengers to switch from where they currently chose to fly from.
5. 4
The Airports Commission’s interim report should set out how it
has taken into account the importance of local demand in
determining how airlines use airport capacity.
Runway constraints at Heathrow might not be the reason for fewer flights
to emerging economies, but preferences from local passengers as
shown by new research commissioned. Two-thirds (85M) of £127m
London airports passengers in 2010 came from SE or E England.
6. 5
The Airports Commission must address whether projections
for future air travel demand are realistic and, if so, how the
Government’s accelerated CO2 targets could still be
London’s need for a hub airport is under debate. While some argue it
is needed for economic benefits, London remains the best connected
European city and in 2010 the majority (78%) of Heathrow
passengers flew direct to their destination rather using the airport as
a ‘hub’.
7. 6
If the Airports Commission finds a need to increase airport
capacity, it should rule out any expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow causes significant noise and air pollution. 700,000
residents already suffer from noise pollution from Heathrow flights
(28% of all the people in Europe who suffer from aircraft noise).
8. 7
The Airports Commission must make clear in its interim report
its criteria for shortlisting any other options for airport
expansion, if necessary, addressing any issues.
There could be issues to address if a new Thames Estuary airport
was built, including the potential closure of Heathrow (generates
employment for 136,000); the £80 billion cost and airspace
implications. NATS evidence suggested it could mean more aircraft
flying at low levels over central London.
9. To read the report and find out
more about the investigation,
please visit:
www.london.gov.uk/airport-capacity
10. To read the report and find out
more about the investigation,
please visit:
www.london.gov.uk/airport-capacity