More support for UK airport expansion
- Latest News
- Friday, 16 July 2010
The ConDem coalition government - which took office in May - already has cancelled plans for expanded runway capacity at London's Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick as part of a program for a low-carbon economy.
In its report "Rethinking Aviation," the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) acknowledged the environmental concerns, but said: "Air transport and airport infrastructure are vital for the UK's international connectivity and prosperity. As a trading island nation and popular tourist destination we depend on our ability to connect with the rest of the world."
ICE aviation expert Simon Godfrey-Arnold added: "World class airport infrastructure helps attract inward investment, enables access to an international labour force and provides direct business and leisure links to growing economies around the world like China, Brazil and India."
ICE also said capacity constraints could result in international carriers abandoning Heathrow, Britain's biggest airport, in favour of larger and more economically-attractive northern European hubs.
