Holiday Rentals News - Regions will 'benefit from Heathrow expansion'

Regions will 'benefit from Heathrow expansion'

The proposed expansion of Heathrow airport would benefit regional airports, according to an industry expert.

Neil Pakey, deputy chair of the Airport Operators Association, said that despite fears it might damage regional business, an increase to Heathrow's capacity would in fact "benefit the regions far more".

He explained that the one sector that is suffering most is regional air traffic access to Heathrow.

"At the moment, we're struggling to maintain the domestic air services into London and in some cases, up to 80 per cent of people using those services will be coming in from places far, far away…They'll be coming in to that hub and then access the regions," he remarked.

Last week, transport secretary Ruth Kelly released a consultation on the expansion proposals called Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport, addressing the possibility of adding a sixth terminal with road and rail access as well as a third runway.

Meanwhile, a study recently published by the Civil Aviation Authority revealed that the number of passengers using UK regional airports every year has reached 100 million for the first time.

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