Airlines UK comments on the announcement by Heathrow Airport on passenger charges once its new runway is built

July 27th, 2017

Commenting on the announcement today by Heathrow Airport that they intend to keep passenger charges “as close as possible to current levels” once its new runway is built, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Airlines agree with Chris Grayling that expansion at Heathrow must be delivered while keeping charges flat. The Secretary of State’s statement was an important acknowledgement that extra capacity must not just be waived through under any circumstances, at any cost.

“Heathrow is already the most expensive airport in the world and post-Brexit the UK will need to compete even more with other hubs.

“We look forward to seeing the detail behind Heathrow’s announcement. Airlines are clear that the cost of expansion that they and their customers pay for is a key factor. We need the right solution at the right price, at the right time, in order to meet the needs of customers, and over time the aim should be for charges to come down as the number of movements increase.”