Europe’s airport association welcomes #Heathrow decision, but warns that “Europe continues to face capacity crunch over the next 20 years”

The UK Government has announced a tentative approval for an additional runway at London-Heathrow airport - subject to another public consultation and parliamentary vote. This announcement points to a timeline for final approval that could extend to the end of 2017.

Reacting to the news, ACI EUROPE – Europe’s airport association - welcomed the fact that the UK government has clarified its position on expanding airport capacity in the UK. ACI EUROPE called for this additional capacity to be delivered swiftly, as well as for further airport capacity development and legal certainty on the future of the UK-EU aviation relationship.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI EUROPE said: “This announcement brings us closer to the end of one of the longest, most publicly-consulted infrastructure planning processes, anywhere in the world. While a positive development in itself, this is just a first step requiring both swift implementation and a plan for further airport capacity development – not least because this new runway at Heathrow will not be enough to meet future demand for air transport. An island economy lives or dies by its air connectivity. If the UK Government is serious about its focus on economic growth and preserving the country’s global positioning, it needs to truly embed air connectivity and sustainable airport development in its economic strategy. This has become a common feature of some of the world’s most dynamic and forward-looking economies.”

Brexit: The UK-EU Aviation relationship not yet clear

Jankovec added, “last but not least, today’s announcement can be no substitute for much needed legal certainty over the future of the UK-EU aviation relationship. There must be quick reassurances that as part of its Brexit strategy, the UK Government will seek to ensure that the UK and EU aviation market will remain closely integrated - with EU and UK airlines continuing to enjoy free market access.”

As recognised by the EU Aviation Strategy launched last year, the lack of sufficient airport capacity remains one of the main challenges faced by European aviation – with the situation being particularly acute in the UK. EUROCONTROL has forecast that insufficient levels of airports capacity will result in 12% of demand for air transport not being accommodated by 2035 – or 1.9 million flights not taking place. The lack of airport capacity will mainly affect medium-sized and larger airports – reflecting a trend of air traffic concentration as airlines tend to focus on primary markets & higher yields. Along with Turkey, the Netherlands and Belgium, the UK is expected to face a significant shortage of airport capacity.

Jankovec commented: “Europe continues to face an airport capacity crunch over the next 20 years. This will obviously hurt aviation – with delays & flight cancellations expected to reach unprecedented levels throughout the entire network and also generating huge environmental inefficiencies. In addition, this will damage our economies with the resulting weakened air connectivity costing €97 billion in lost GDP annually and nearly 2 million jobs missed out on by 2035.”

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