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BIFA backs UK Airports Commission support to expand UK airport capacity
THE British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association for UK freight forwarders and logistics service providers, has given its support to the interim report from the Airports Commission on airport capacity in the UK, which has proposed that Britain must push ahead with expansion of capacity with new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick.
New runways at Heathrow and Gatwick are among the options that have been short-listed by the Airports Commission for expanding UK airport capacity. The three short-listed options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow and a new runway at Gatwick.
BIFA director general Peter Quantrill noted that the report's interim proposal for more runways is an exercise in damage limitation. "Over the past decades, successive UK governments have shown a singular lack of vision in the face of a massive surge in air transport and consequent pressure on existing airport infrastructure in the South East.
"In 2009, BIFA gave qualified support to the then UK government's decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow airport. BIFA's hope is that the shortlist in today's interim report for new runway capacity at Heathrow, as well as Gatwick, without discounting the idea of a new hub elsewhere, move things forward in regard to getting started on an expansion of UK aviation hub capacity," he said,
"We can only hope that after the general election in May 2015, the welter of evidence as presented will be such that politicians will give the green light and adopt these recommendations in full. We trust that today's report will finally lead to some action."
The commission, led by businessman Howard Davies, will also consider a new airport in the Isle of Grain in north Kent. A final report is due by summer 2015. Sir Howard has set a deadline of 2030.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said that putting a new runway at Heathrow would be a "catastrophe" and continues to support the creation of the Isle of Grain.
New runways at Heathrow and Gatwick are among the options that have been short-listed by the Airports Commission for expanding UK airport capacity. The three short-listed options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow and a new runway at Gatwick.
BIFA director general Peter Quantrill noted that the report's interim proposal for more runways is an exercise in damage limitation. "Over the past decades, successive UK governments have shown a singular lack of vision in the face of a massive surge in air transport and consequent pressure on existing airport infrastructure in the South East.
"In 2009, BIFA gave qualified support to the then UK government's decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow airport. BIFA's hope is that the shortlist in today's interim report for new runway capacity at Heathrow, as well as Gatwick, without discounting the idea of a new hub elsewhere, move things forward in regard to getting started on an expansion of UK aviation hub capacity," he said,
"We can only hope that after the general election in May 2015, the welter of evidence as presented will be such that politicians will give the green light and adopt these recommendations in full. We trust that today's report will finally lead to some action."
The commission, led by businessman Howard Davies, will also consider a new airport in the Isle of Grain in north Kent. A final report is due by summer 2015. Sir Howard has set a deadline of 2030.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said that putting a new runway at Heathrow would be a "catastrophe" and continues to support the creation of the Isle of Grain.
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