BA Chief Executive Urges Heathrow Expansion
The chief executive of British Airways (BA) has again urged the development of London Heathrow Airport to proceed, saying that if a third runway is not built at the airport his airline could develop its business overseas instead.
Willie Walsh reiterated his view, first outlined last month, that the proposals for further expansion at Heathrow were important for the future economic development of the UK.
This time he also said that if the development did not take place, BA may have to focus on expanding operations in other countries, at the expense of the UK and specifically Heathrow where BA is the airport's major operator.
Walsh said: "I do not believe Heathrow is as efficient as it could be".
Walsh Believes Development Necessary for Future Success
Following on from initial comments he made last month on the proposals to develop Heathrow, Walsh said that the introduction of a new third runway - together with the other proposals, including a sixth terminal - was necessary to keep Heathrow in the leading rank of air transport hubs.
He said: "[Heathrow] has to be able to compete with other major international airports. Most have more than two runways; for example Amsterdam has five".
Walsh continued: 'This is why I support expansion...Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport but it is not the most popular. If we want to have services to the world from the UK, you can't sustain that only with traffic that originates in the London area. You have to have additional transfer traffic".
Walsh added that if Heathrow was not developed, BA might in the future be forced to look overseas to develop its business further.
BA currently controls over 40% of runway slots at Heathrow. The new Terminal 5, opening in March, will be used exclusively by the airline.
Walsh: Expansion "Tough Call to Make"
Mr Walsh admitted that the decision to expand the airport would be controversial. He said it would be "a tough call to make" and that the loss of local homes in Sipson and part of Harmondsworth - which would make way for the development - would be "regrettable" if it occurred.
However, he said that "we have to look at what's in the overall interest". He said that "local people know the benefits of Heathrow outweigh the disadvantages", and that "an expanded Heathrow would bring more jobs as international companies look to locate near a global gateway".
Mr Walsh called on local authorities to remove their opposition to the expansion for these reasons.
The proposals for the future development of Heathrow were announced by the UK government in November last year.
Source - Airport International's London Reporter
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