Heathrow Expansion Faces Political, Legal Obstacles – But Is This The End Game?

The issue of expansion of Heathrow’s runway capacity seems to be an all-consuming game for advocates, policy hangers-on and dissenters. No doubt that the UK needs additional airside capacity, but in the case of the British economy a healthy and vibrant modern economy requires more than tarmac at Heathrow. Surely the UK Airports Commission is right that there is a current issue in the South. More runway capacity is needed now and into the future to support the heavy passenger business. But this alone does not solve anticipated passenger demand, much less the demand for competitive air cargo in the South, much less in the North.

Let’s not forget that economic competitiveness is usually cited as the key underlying objective for these things. Global commerce is driven by moving not only people but by moving products of commerce, and the UK’s seamless ability to support industry with a strategic transport infrastructure system is of paramount importance. The movement of passengers seems to have been the main focus of recent policy debates – and we think that there is a critical competitiveness issue surrounding support for industries that rely on air cargo. Let’s hope that the powers understand that the third runway will not help the economies north of London so much – industrial sectors like pharma and electronics need quick access to high-velocity cargo movement capability to key global markets. A challenging journey on the congested Motorway system to a runway in the South does not begin to address the question.

Policymakers: Please expand your view and connect the silos. Economic development must become a fundamental part of transport planning – it is simply not at the moment.