Bristol Airport response to the announcement of an independent commission to review aviation capacity

2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Commenting on the creation of an independent commission to review aviation capacity, Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Airport, said:

“It is important that the independent commission looks beyond London when considering how to make best use of existing runway capacity. The UK’s regional airports handled 86 million passengers in 2011 and Department for Transport forecasts predict this number will grow to 150 million by 2030, by which point all London airports will be at full capacity. Even if consensus can be reached on a solution to capacity constraints in the South East, it will be many years before new runways or airports in London are operational.

“A strong London airport system is of national importance, but regional airports should not play second fiddle to those in the South East. By taking a fresh view of the UK airports sector and resisting emotive arguments about hub capacity there is an opportunity to make best use of existing capacity and rebalance the economy at the same time.”

Notes

• The CAA Passenger Survey indicates that, in 2011, 6.1 million passengers with an origin or destination in the South West and South Wales flew from the London airports, primarily Heathrow and Gatwick, over half of which were travelling to short haul destinations.
• Plans for the development of Bristol Airport to handle up to 10 million passengers per annum were approved by North Somerset Council in February 2011. The development commenced in November 2011 and the first of more than 30 separate projects – the construction of three new aircraft stands – was completed in spring 2012.

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