UK Airport Travel news - Heathrow Airport

9th December 2009

Third runway at Heathrow Airport gains MP's support.

Construction of a third runway at Heathrow is expected to get the support of the Commons Transport Select Committee today, when it publishes a report into the future of UK aviation. It is also hinting that Gatwick airport would be a better location for expansion in the future than Stansted.

The Future of Aviation will argue that British airports, particularly Heathrow, must be better connected to maintain the UK as a key European travel hub.

The report states that there are more  economic benefits to a third runway at Heathrow, as long as transport options to and from the Airport are improved.

A spokes man commented that although Heathrow was a major European hub, only six UK cities have flights into it. He added that  direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network needed to be improved in order to maximise the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts.

The cross-party committee of MPs is also recommending that any hikes to air passenger duty (APD) must factor in the depth of the current aviation recession. It cites that there are about 200,000 people employed by the aviation industry, down from 520,000 in 2004.

It will also argue for countrywide high-speed rail links to ease the environment impact of the anticipated increase in air travel. But they acknowledge the limit that train travel can replace short-haul flights.

Approximately 225 million passengers flew from UK airports last year, a figure that is set to double by 2030.

For a full list of car parks and details of transfers go to Heathrow airport parking and Gatwick airport parking.