IATA called on UK Parliamentarians to vote in favor of the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) on Monday, which will open the way to the long-overdue expansion of Heathrow.
“We urge the members of the UK parliament to vote in favor of the NPS. A global Britain needs a hub airport ready to seize the opportunities of an increasingly interconnected world. The number of air passengers is set to double in the next 20 years. The question is whether Britain wants to take its share of these new travelers, who would bring massive economic and social benefits to the UK,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe.
The position of Heathrow as the dominant hub for international traffic in Europe has steadily declined over the past two decades, as opportunities to grow at the congested airport become scarce.
“Ten years ago, Heathrow was the world’s third biggest airport. Now it is the seventh largest. In 1995 Paris Charles de Gaulle had about half as many passengers as Heathrow. Today, it has only 11% fewer passengers. On current trends, by 2025—the soonest a new runway could be built—Heathrow’s competitive edge will have been further eroded. It’s time for MPs to end years of dither and delay and vote for a strong, connected Britain,” said Schvartzman.
