UK airlines respond to Heathrow Airport consultation – “welcome further clarity on the detail, but remain to be convinced Heathrow can deliver without costs for airlines increasing”

June 18th, 2019

Responding to the launch of the latest Heathrow Airport consultation on their expansion plans, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association that represents 13 UK-registered carriers, said:

“We welcome the consultation and further clarity from Heathrow on the detail, but remain to be convinced that they can deliver this scheme without costs for airlines increasing. The economic prize for the UK is enormous if they get it right, but this won’t happen if charges are ramped up and airlines can’t afford to operate there.

“Until we are convinced that charges will remain at today’s levels our support for the runway will remain conditional, and given Ministers have said they will not sign off on the scheme without airline approval this is clearly a critical issue for the airport to address.”