Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive has spoken out against proposals for new airport in the Thames Estuary. Steve Ridgeway used an interview in the Financial Times to warn of the potential impact a new airport would have on jobs and business in the Heathrow area.
Murad Qureshi, a London-wide Assembly member, says Boris Johnson’s call for second hub airport threatens Heathrow’s viability and the business case for Crossrail.
Labour London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi said
"It’s not just the airport itself and the impact it would have on the thousands of people who work at Heathrow. This proposal threatens the wider transport infrastructure as well. Crossrail is being built to get people from east to west – to Heathrow. If we’re to have an alternative airport the business case for Crossrail no longer stacks up.
"The Mayor is a lone voice in calling for this new airport in the Thames. The Government are opposed, the EU would never allow it on environmental grounds and now we have one of the biggest airlines coming out publicly against it."
Ends.
Notes
Murad Qureshi is a London-wide Assembly Member and is Vice Chair of the Assembly’s Environment Committee
He represents the London Assembly on the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC)
The Mayor’s aviation report can be found here:
Steve Ridgway was speaking to Pilita Clark in the Financial Times on Monday 24th January, 2011:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/46bfe9ae-2721-11e0-80d7-00144feab49a.html
For further information please contact Alison Marcroft on 020 7983 4363
http://www.london.gov.uk/increasing-londons-airport-capacity: "Second hub airports are a myth. This is just Boris-speak for replacement airport. Any new hub airport would be in direct competition with Heathrow and one of them would inevitably be eclipsed."