Airport News
Rudd questions third runway decision at Heathrow Airport
Thu, 30 Sep, 2010
Following the government's decision to deny Heathrow Airport a third runway, the chairman of parent company BAA has expressed his disappointment at the verdict, which he branded a "political" decision.
Sir Nigel Rudd told the Sunday Telegraph that the government's decision had consigned Heathrow Airport to being a "second tier airport".
"If there is going to be no third runway … how does the nation cope with the fact that we're going to receive an ever-decreasing share of international passengers?" he said.
Sir Nigel went on to state that, despite ongoing operation improvements, the airport would be unable to compete with its international counterparts.
Instead, he revealed the company will now concentrate its efforts on Madrid's Barajas Airport, which boasts four runways, once BAA's merger with Iberia was fully completed.
Earlier in the month, Heathrow Airport announced it had received the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard for its work in reducing its environmental impact.