Th e UK freight, logistics and business community have slammed the UK government’s decision to delay a decision until next summer – at the earliest – on whether a third runway will be built at Heathrow Airport.
Prime Minister David Cameron had pledged to make a final decision by the end of this year on a $34.5 billion plan to build a third runway at Heathrow, which had been recommended by a governmentappointed commission.
But the government in early December said it needs to undertake more environmental studies before deciding whether to opt for a third runway at Heathrow or a second runway at nearby London Gatwick airport, which handles only a small volume of cargo.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says forwarders are “dismayed” over the lack of decisiveness slamming the delay as being nothing more than politics. “Th e 1,500 companies within BIFA are dismayed that the uncertainty and indecision over expanding aviation capacity is set to continue into next summer,” said BIFA BIFA director general, Robert Keen.
“BIFA has little doubt that this decision is about political expediency, not environmental matters, which must have been addressed in the work done by the Airports Commission during the three years it took to investigate the issues.
“The UK’s freight forwarding community, which is the engine of Britain’s international trade, needs the Government to stop playing political football with the issue of aviation capacity and make a decision. Every week that passes has a direct cost to the UK economy, its international connectivity and reputation.”
“We need the government to get on with an increase in UK aviation hub capacity by announcing an expansion and improvement of airport infrastructure at Heathrow in order to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s most important aviation hub,” Keen added.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said further delay in a decision damaged the UK’s international reputation and would discourage investment in the sector that generates 40 per cent of Britain’s imports and exports. Th e FTA’s director of global and European policy, Chris Welsh said: “Yet another delay in a decision on future investment in airport capacity is damaging the UK’s international competitiveness.
“Th e UK’s ability to access existing and new markets is in danger of being seriously impaired by a failure to invest in Britain’s core infrastructure capacity.
Worse still, as the Government dithers, is the damage done to our international reputation and the signal it sends overseas investors who are likely to question the UK’s capability to invest in vital infrastructure required to maintain and enhance the UK’s connectivity.
“Organisations such as OECD and the World Bank have highlighted that Government interventions on infrastructure investment are essential in attaining good connectivity and efficient logistics and are vital components in a nation’s ability to compete in the global economy.”
Heathrow is Europe’s fourth-largest air freight hub, behind Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol, handling 1.6 million tonnes of air freight in 2014. Heathrow Airport’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye said he is confi dent his airport would still be chosen for the expansion.
Gatwick’s cargo traffic has slumped from around 320,000 tonnes in 2000 to under 90,000 tonnes in 2014 as the airport has sharpened its focus on passengers.
