Responding to Heathrow Airport’s release of ‘Heathrow – A new approach’ which details its plans for expansion published today (Wednesday 17 July), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said that “the third runway is badly needed but an ‘accelerated decision’ on enhanced airport capacity to meet existing and future air-freight requirements that serve our international trade needs to be made ‘sooner rather than later’ and stalling on that decision was detrimental to the UK economy.
Heathrow has submitted new runway proposals to the Airports Commission stating that it will deliver the long term capacity and connections that the UK economy urgently needs. Recognised in the document is the importance of air freight pointing out the wider economic benefits to the economy, particularly from international trade and inward investment to the UK, productivity and agglomeration estimating the effects of a third runway ranging between £32 – £137 billion.
