The Department for Transport plans to help Heathrow recover after disruption do not go far enough, according to Mike Carrivick, CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK).
Under the proposals, announced yesterday (July 15), Heathrow Airport will be permitted to use its two runways for both landings and take-offs to ease congestion.
While Carrivick said the proposals will add “robustness”, he criticized the deeper issue that they “do not provide a proper solution to the chronic lack of airport capacity in London and South East England”.
He said: "The proposals do not address the airport capacity needed to maintain the UK's competitive edge in aviation, and the economy in general.”
BAR UK’s airline members, which include British Airways, Bmi and Virgin Atlantic, are eagerly awaiting the planned trials, said Carrivick.
Benefits of using Heathrow’s runways for both landings and take-offs would include “far less aircraft holding resulting in much improved punctuality, fewer delays and reduced emissions,” he said.
www.bar-uk.org