FOLLOWING the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, today (1 July 2015) releasing its final report, including its recommendations for expanding aviation capacity and its assessment of the shortlisted options…
Ross Martin, chief executive, SCDI (Scottish Council for Development & Industry), commented: “Improving connectivity with international markets is of paramount importance to Scotland’s future prosperity.
“Scotland’s airports are growing their international routes and support for this is a top priority.
“However, access to the global networks offered by hubs will continue to be essential and the Airports Commission has concluded that expansion at Heathrow would enable the greatest scale of increase on the long-haul market for the UK.
“The major London airports are national infrastructure assets and they must serve the needs for the nations and regions of the UK.
“We particularly welcome the Commissions’ view that additional capacity can halt the decline in our air connections with them, and its recommendation that the Government should change its policy and introduce airport-to-airport public service obligations as an interim measure to safeguard existing routes or support new routes, and, following expansion, support a wide network of domestic routes to and from Heathrow.
“Now that the Commission has produced its independent, evidence-based report on the UK’s long-term connectivity needs and options, which balances the productivity benefits of additional airport capacity for freight and passengers, with innovative proposals on how to utilise it in a way which reduces the environmental and social effects, SCDI hopes that the UK Government and Parliament will now make progress on finally delivering a new runway.
“The track record of the UK on delivering additional strategic capacity in our transport networks is poor, whether for connectivity in the air or on the ground, and we urge immediate steps to put new hub capacity and HS2 in motion.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
SCDI (Scottish Council for Development & Industry) is Scotland’s leading independent economic development organisation working across the public, private and social economy sectors, representing 1,200 organisations including global companies, SMEs, public sector bodies and educational institutions, professional associations and trade unions, faith groups, charitable and social economy sector organisations. www.scdi.org.uk
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