Changes to airport capacity could take off

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/03/changes-airport-capacity-could-take-off

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An expanded Heathrow is uniquely positioned to deliver huge economic benefits to Britain while also minimising its impact on local communities and the environment (Editorial, 3 September). Rather than resulting in fewer greenhouse gases globally, opposing a third runway at Heathrow would mean British passengers are forced to take longer routes to their destinations flying via other hubs around the world. For a typical passenger, an indirect flight to Beijing from London would mean a connection via Dubai, resulting in a journey 40% longer and adding a landing and take-off – burning more carbon unnecessarily and producing more emissions.Heathrow is also closer to the centre of population for hub passengers, which would result in shorter journeys and less surface access carbon dioxide emissions than other hubs in Europe. Should capacity be increased at Heathrow, we are committed to ensuring there will be no more Heathrow-related vehicles on the roads than today and those vehicles that are travelling to the airport will be cleaner. The independent Committee on Climate Change has agreed that a third runway at Heathrow is consistent with meeting the UK's legally binding climate change targets. A 60% growth in UK air passengers is possible while ensuring these targets are met.Matt GormanSustainability director, Heathrow

• You are right to question the case for new runway capacity to serve London. Seventy per cent of passengers using Heathrow are on leisure trips, so there is plenty of scope to expand business travel in support of Britain's exporters. Some leisure travellers would be displaced elsewhere from existing long-haul flights and by shifting short-haul point-to-point routes to other airports. Leisure travellers are used to travelling indirectly, for instance via a Middle East hub at lower cost even though a direct fight. We have a very competitive market in air travel – four competing airports in the London region and many airlines, including new entrants. This will ensure that the priority needs of business travellers are met, together with the bulk of demand for leisure travel. If some of the latter is displaced to other modes or domestic destinations, we could live with that given our negative balance of trade in tourism.David MetzCentre for Transport Studies, University College London