Hammond: no runway expansion for key London airports

News at Gatwick 01/11/2010

A380 approved for flights through Gatwick : November 2010 : New ‘issues’ discovered on 3 other Qantas A380s

Hammond ruled out any change regarding opposition to new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted.

The new government is to undertake its first major review of aviation policy but there will be no new runways at Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow. UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond insisted the government is not ‘anti-aviation’ but he vowed there would be no change to official opposition to the expansion of runways at the three biggest airports around London.

Announcing the review at the Airport Operators Association conference Monday, Hammond said the continued opposition to such expansion would be the only ‘restriction’ in the scope of the policy review. The review is to commence in 2011 but talks on a formal draft policy paper will not be held until the following year.

The transport secretary said aviation must ‘decarbonise’. He added, however, that Britain’s airport passenger duty (APD) will continue even European emissions trading begins in 2012. Airlines argue that they will effective be double taxed under such an arrangement. They dispute government allegations that aviation is under-taxed, insisting they are already taxed in excess of their CO2 emissions.

The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme will generate no revenues for the British government. The transport secretary insists airlines must play a role in helping the UK pay off its national debt.

A380 approved for flights through Gatwick : November 2010 : New ‘issues’ discovered on 3 other Qantas A380s

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