Airport News
BCC: Lack of third runway at Heathrow costing UK billions
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009
The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has claimed that delays over the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport are costing the UK economy billions.
According to the Economic Impact of Hub Airports report the two runways that are currently in operation at Heathrow are operating at nearly 99 per cent and the congestion from this is costing the taxpayer.
The report states that for every year that the controversial expansion fails to materialise Britain will lose between £900 million and £1.1 billion.
Director general of the BCC, David Frost, said: "Connectivity is vital to the UK economy as businesses seek to develop new global opportunities that will allow them to generate wealth and jobs.
"Without additional capacity at our major hub airport, we will continue to fall behind our continental competitors."
However, critics of the report have pointed out that it does not take into account the environmental issues which surround the expansion.