International air links are vital to London’s world city status

Access to high quality international air travel is vital for business in the capital. International links have always been one of London’s greatest assets and adequate airport runway capacity is critical to the competitive position of London in a global economy. However, current capacity is insufficient to meet current, let alone forecast, demand.

Demand in London for flights is anticipated to continue to grow over the next decade, at or near historic rates. If London is to remain globally competitive, new runway capacity in London and the South East is required to provide direct long-haul flights to business centres and growing economy cities.

London First has campaigned for increased aviation capacity for London that addresses business needs and environmental concerns. We believe that the current timetable for considering the options available for increasing capacity, which requires the Government’s independent commission to report in 2015, fails to address the capacity crunch with sufficient urgency and should be shortened.

Airports Commission led by Sir Howard Davies

London First, in its submission to the Airports Commission, recommends an increase of flights at Heathrow, coupled with greater noise protection for residents, plus the deregulation of Gatwick and Stansted and investment in their rail links, as short-term solutions to the UK’s air capacity crisis – Read more

Why the South East needs more aviation capacity – Baroness Valentine speech at the Transport Times Conference

A New Strategy for UK Aviation – The Case for New Hub Capacity, speech by Baroness Jo Valentine at the Transport Times Aviation Conference (18 April 2012)

Imagine a world class Heathrow

In recent years the poor quality of the passenger experience at Heathrow – London’s principal business airport – has posed a sustained threat to London, and the UK, as a fulcrum of the global economy.

A London First-commissioned study of the regulatory controls governing Heathrow airport identifies key symptoms of ‘Heathrow Hassle’ – flight delays, long and unreliable waiting times, deteriorating airport buildings and distorted economic incentives – and suggests potential short and medium-term solutions to restore Heathrow to world class status.

The report was carried out by London Economics and steered by a group of the capital’s business leaders. We consulted widely with business, the aviation industry and other stakeholders on the issues we identified.

Reform of airport regulation – putting the passenger first

We campaigned for a fundamental reform of regulation to put the passenger first. We were pleased that the Government announced its intention to adopt proposals to overhaul the regulatory regime, and committed as part of its consultation to give the regulator a new primary duty to further the interests of passengers. The Government introduced the Civil Aviation Bill to Parliament on 19 January 2012.

London First sat on the Government’s South East Airport Taskforce, chaired by Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers, to examine how to improve the passenger experience within current capacity constraints at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

London First’s response to the Government’s economic review of UK airports (June 2009)