Supporter stress Heathrow expansion necessary for UK prosperity

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Groups supporting the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport are re-asserting their claim that it is absolutely necessary for the economic growth of Britain and for its future prosperity.

Part of the argument notes that Heathrow is behind other European airports in destinations served – including Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and Munich. The supporters are claiming that the additional runway is essential to establish the hub status of the UK’s premier airport.

One-third of the passengers handled by Heathrow pass through only to connect to other flights, but the pro-expansion lobby has stressed that without the volume of transfer traffic, many long-haul carriers would not find it viable to connect through London.

A major risk of not building another runway, according to the lobby, is that passengers will see declining numbers of direct flights to desired destinations, making it necessary for them to make a change of planes elsewhere. Currently, Heathrow services 187 destinations directly, which is 44 fewer than it did in 1990.

A number of UK businesses have registered their support for the expansion programme, including BT, Diageo and Tate & Lyle. The lobby notes also that no take-off or landing slots were created when Terminal 5 opened.

Paul Walsh, the chief executive of drinks firm Diageo, said: “A third runway at Heathrow is essential for UK competitiveness, particularly as we strive to meet the challenge and opportunity of the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Latin America.”

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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