Post-election political bargaining could help drive through a third runway at Heathrow, the airport’s boss has suggested, as the hub seeks backing from parties that could play a crucial role in forming the next government.
The airports commission’s verdict is due within two months of an election that is expected to produce a hung parliament, and Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said there was a swell of support for expansion across the parties. He said he believed Liberal Democrats would not block it, despite their manifesto opposition, while the Democratic Unionist party and the Alliance party – who go into the election with a total of nine MPs – have pledged their support for a new runway.
He added: “I was encouraged by all the major parties’ commitment to engage with the Davies commission. Two Northern Ireland parties have put it in their manifesto that they are backing Heathrow.”
The Scottish National party, which is projected to send around 50 MPs to Westminster after 7 May, has not given explicit backing to either Gatwick or Heathrow. But Holland-Kaye said: “Scotland has a huge amount to gain, through more connection, competition and new routes.”
Research commissioned by Heathrow claims expansion would mean thousands of extra jobs in Scotland through new connections, although many Scottish passengers currently travel long-haul via other European hubs.
The Lib Dems, whose coalition agreement with the Conservatives in 2010 overturned the previous government’s plans for a third Heathrow runway, officially say they remain opposed to any expansion of Heathrow or Gatwick. But Holland-Kaye said: “I don’t see it being a red line for the Lib Dems.”
Gatwick has long argued that Heathrow expansion is politically undeliverable, but Holland-Kaye said he believed even the objections of Boris Johnson, London mayor and Conservative leadership hopeful, have been blunted.
“The mayor was calling for us to meet the European standards for noise footprints, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with a £700m investment in noise insulation. It’s the right thing to do but it shows just how far we have come in addressing the calls from politicians and local communities.”
He claimed the airport had reduced emissions by 16% in five years and was set to announce further steps to create a cleaner Heathrow.
Heathrow announced first-quarter results that showed revenues up 8% year-on-year to £622m, with higher spending in terminals and an earlier Easter nudging up passenger numbers. The airport took the opportunity to have a swipe at its rival, describing Vietnam Airlines as “the latest airline to move its London operations from Gatwick to Heathrow”. Last year Air China pulled out from Gatwick, which was owned by Heathrow under BAA until late 2009. Holland-Kaye added: “Actually there has been a pretty steady flow – they have fewer long-haul destinations today than when we sold them five years ago.”
He said that underlined a hub airport was needed to access global destinations, adding that it was “scandalous” that the UK was not connected to Xi’an – one of the biggest economic centres in China – and other growing markets. “We are letting down business, passengers and our tourist sector by not having flights there. Paris has added flights to Xi’an and Brasilia; we don’t have either.
“The French are moving ahead of us in connecting to the growing economies of the world. On the anniversary of Waterloo, the French are advancing and the British are retreating.”
