FTA urges government to make Heathrow decision

The FTA has stressed the need for the UK government to make a decision regarding the development of Heathrow airport.

Chris Welsh, the FTA’s Director of Global and European Policy, told delegates at a Heathrow conference last week that a government decision is needed urgently in the wake of the Brexit vote.

“The Government must now follow the recommendation of its own inquiry and back a third runway at Heathrow,” Welsh said, referring to the results of the Davies Commission conducted last year.

“Without it, the UK will irreversibly fall behind competitors such a Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, and much of the air freight market will over time transfer to these continental airports,” he told attendees.

The Davies Commission recommended Heathrow airport over Gatwick based on the projected economic benefits, which were cited as £147 billion in economic growth and the creation of 70,000 new jobs over the next half-century.

This was corroborated by the FTA’s own report conducted by York Aviation.

However, following these findings last year, the government delayed the decision on the basis that more investigation was needed into issues such as pollution and compensation for nearby residents.

It was delayed again following Brexit as the Conservative government awaited the election of a new leader. Since then, Theresa May has taken the helm as Prime Minister.

(Source: UK Haulier)