Extra runways at London airports
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at 11:11 by transtraxman.
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BigDog.ParticipantWill the Tory majority result in bold, decisive action wrt the much needed additional runway? One hopes so. However, given many Tory MPs local to LHR or LGW indicated their opposition during their own election campaigns, I doubt it.
Meanwhile is this another delaying tactic…
IMHO it will be the worst outcome for UK PLC and LHR remaining competition constrained to the detriment of the flying public with ongoing prevarication being the order of the day after Sir Howard reports.
8 May 2015
at 10:01
MrMichaelParticipantI think with Boris Johnson opposed to it and now being a LHR local MP and his obvious eyes on the leadership of the Tory party, Cameron just would not dare to support a third runway for Heathrow. Wrong decision in my opinion, but that’s how it is. Politics wins against the needs of the country.
8 May 2015
at 10:26
FlightlevelParticipantWell the ballot box has influence,previous shadow chancellor hinted on LHR,and he lost his seat!Boris’s decision we shall see?The Airport’s Commission requires further delay to the end of May to consider environment factors.That should write off LHR since it has exceeded EU limits for years and the operator continues to buy polluting vehicles, when almost every airport vehicle can be electric since by definition they only travel within the perimeter!
10 May 2015
at 00:10
SimonS1ParticipantBit tricky for the Tories now. With a change of government it could all have been kicked into the long grass with new reviews of the old enquiries, however with the same people re elected decisions will need to be made.
Amidst the inevitable public hearings etc I doubt much will happen for the next 6 or 7 years.
Still as the LibDems have returned to being a fringe party that is one less problem to worry about. I wonder if the SNP will try to muscle in in this?
10 May 2015
at 07:39
AnthonyDunnParticipantWell SimonS1, I for one will take considerable exception to your petulant, arrogant and dismissive final comment.
That said, there is now no conceivable excuse for the Tories to delay a decision – beyond the fact that they have been facing in both directions on this as with so many other issues. How long before there is a by-election in Richmond Park which the Tories will lose? And then their majority will be down to 10 …and counting.
I wonder where the fabled HS2 project is going to be in a year or two’s time, bearing in mind that the whole thing was dreamed up and used as a pretext for Tories across west London to dodge a bullet over airport runway expansion. As the Tories made so many very expensive and entirely unfunded election promises together with many entirely unexplained planned cuts, this one strikes me as being an obvious target.
With many others, I will thoroughly enjoy skewering them for their half-truths and broken promises.
10 May 2015
at 10:13
canuckladParticipantDC might have won an unexpected majority, although I’ll be claiming a few pints of friends today, who thought I was barking when I predicted the Tories would win a couple of weeks ago.
Added to MrMichaels comment about the clever and shrewd loose cannon that is Boris, DCs majority is so slithery slim,that the leadership will not want to rock the boat full of the London NIMBY MPs who lie waiting to strike, like a nest of vipers …Because of this, I will predict a set up of a second parliamentary commission to independently verify or not the findings of the original commission . A classic politicians tactic of taking decisive action by doing absolutely hee haw
As for the SNPs take on it all…quite balanced, although they believe the commission is too focused on the SE, this can be addressed by devolving aviation policy powers to Holywod , especially the ability to scrap APD. Interestingly EDI has already applied to change it local flight patterns to enable more flights.10 May 2015
at 10:27
transtraxmanParticipantSo what you are suggesting is that the APD is devolved to the nations, except England. They will then abolish it to promote regional flights to such important international destinations as Paris CDG, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Franfurt, Munich and Zurich. All these are hubs for other airlines than our own. This, of course, suits the ostriches because any growth in demand is diverted from the South East.
This was evident with the measure announced in airport-tecnology.com (30th March 2015)
“International and domestic connections from smaller airports to be expanded in UK”.At least if Aer Lingus comes into the IAG fold then flying from Dublin will be less rasping.
It astounds me how quick fixes are the order of the day and the few can dictate to the many .
10 May 2015
at 12:42
MrMichaelParticipantIf I was David Cameron I would not want to make a decision either. That’s the problem with democracy, short termism and no political desire to make decisions that will bear no fruit for ten years or so but could cost you the next election in five. Head in sand is the one things that politicians can be sure does not cost them too many votes.
Interestingly in another thread I mentioned that perhaps it is time for BA to reconsider its LHR centricity and look to Manchester/Birmingham/Edinburgh to expand its long haul offering on the high density routes such as JFK/HK using its soon to be delivered 787’s. That would ease some of the pressure on LHR, as would the takeover of Aer Lingus. ….. and maybe in return DC will create a Lord Walsh of Heathrow T5!
Edited to add: Hold up, isn’t Willie Irish.
10 May 2015
at 13:08
SimonS1ParticipantOh dear Anthony, raw nerves touched and all that. Actually I voted LibDem largely as the best chance of keeping out the Tories where I live. Really the people who have been dismissive are the electorate at large. Losing 86% of your seats takes a bit of doing, not helped by the LibDems failing to keep their own promises as students up and down the land will confirm.
However the reality is that with only 8 seats (and only one within 160 miles of Heathrow) the LibDems are now fairly irrelevant to the debate.
Otherwise you seem to be agreeing with me when I saw it will be difficult for the Tories to kick it all into the long grass, although perhaps they can rely on the Civil Service to deliver another West Coast style balls up to buy a bit of time.
10 May 2015
at 13:30
PeterCoultasParticipantHS? from the north (Man/Leeds/N’castle) to a decent hub in Scotland and LHR becomes rather reduced – quicker to both asia & the US and, with fiscal options, lower taxes?…go for it SDP
10 May 2015
at 17:05
canuckladParticipantHi transtraxman
I wasn’t really suggesting anything other than pointing out the fact that APD will be at least reduced, and more than likely ultimately abolished north of the border. Do I think Gideon will react by abolishing APD in England.. No I don’t, I don’t even believe he will create an exemption for NCL for the reasons I earlier elsewhere in the forum.
Sadly, the UK’s transport infrastructure is hopelessly underfunded and as a result lags behind when compared to Europe and other developed nations. Last Thursdays result will I fear only set us even further back, especially on the railways, because of the HS2 project.Peter, do you know something we don’t know…..Is Roy, Shirley and David making a comeback : )
11 May 2015
at 12:50
BigDog.ParticipantThe FT (Financial Times not FlyerTalk) is peddling the view that the Davis Commission will recommend an extra runway at LHR and not LGW.
To placate what is likely to be vehement opposition apparently generous compensation, noise mitigation and reduced emissions may be offered.
Could a total ban on night flights may be the deal maker?
Meanwhile the CBI has challenged the Conservatives to commit to implement Davies’ findings within its first 100 days of its govt.
13 May 2015
at 21:12
LuganoPirateParticipantLike Canucklad I also forecast a Tory victory and collected a few pennies from the on line bookies! But, whoever won, or hung, it would make no difference, they will continue to procrastinate. It makes me mad, that instead of working together for the good of the country, they oppose what the other side does just to score political points.
Personally, I’d go for the Boris Island idea. Apart from the ducks, no one would be disturbed and this massive infrastructure project would be beneficial in so many ways.
14 May 2015
at 06:28
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantI still think a runway at each airport – and let them compete. I do see the merits of an airport to the East – but I also see many drawbacks.
14 May 2015
at 08:52 -
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