Heathrow key to the UK's aviation future

British Airways welcomes today's Government announcement about the options for improving airport infrastructure across the UK.

Rod Eddington, British Airways' Chief Executive, said: "Heathrow is a unique national asset and by including it in the options, the Government is recognising the key contribution that it makes to the British economy. The priority must be to build on that contribution.

"The UK needs a thriving major international airport that supports a network of inter-continental, European and domestic flights. This can be achieved more readily, and cost effectively, by providing an extra runway at Heathrow thereby enhancing all that has been achieved so far.

"The runway could be accommodated within the noise levels set down as a condition of the Terminal Five decision and without the need for us to operate any additional night flights.

"If Heathrow cannot grow, we will see its international route network reduced, UK regional services further squeezed out and business going to other European airports that have been able to expand and prosper.

"There are those who will oppose Heathrow development on environmental grounds and it is essential that their views are heard as part of this consultation process. But we must not lose sight of the severe economic consequences for Britain if we fail to develop Heathrow.

"Once all the economic and environmental arguments have been assessed, we believe the answer to the needs of UK plc will be an additional runway at Heathrow."

David Evans, British Airways General Manager UK Business, said: "Without an extra runway at Heathrow there will be no scope for us to develop our domestic links to and from the UK regions. A third runway will underpin existing London air links and empower British Airways to deliver new commercially viable regional services.

"Extra runway space will improve connections to London's inter-continental services, provide regional businesses with better access to the capital and boost local economies which benefit from direct Heathrow links.

"For many years the UK regions have lobbied for more access to Heathrow and an additional runway will meet that need.

"While it is too early to say precisely what those future air links will be, we know that extra space at London Heathrow will enable us to serve the regions better than we can do today.

"Demand for direct flights to Europe from UK regional airports is also expected to grow, so it is also vital that additional runway capacity is in place in Scotland and at Birmingham to ensure the continued development of new commercially viable services."