AIRLINES AGAINST FORCED RELOCATION OF WINTER FLIGHTS

22 January 2013 – Proposals by Gatwick Airport that capacity restrictions should be placed on specific airports during winter months to reduce extreme weather delays and cancellations have not gone down well with airlines.

Dale Keller, BAR UK Chief Executive, said “It should not be for airports, or the Government, to dictate where airlines and passengers fly. The major cost of delays and cancellations are borne by the airlines and their customers. The airline community is working with a huge range of stakeholders who all play a role in keeping aircraft flying. It is simply not cost effective for airlines to split operations over different airports for short periods and it is unlikely their customers would want this either.

“This week’s delays and cancellations demonstrate what the airlines have been saying for years, that additional runway capacity at the UK’s hub airport is required to improve air transport resilience, not only international competitiveness and growth. BAR UK will present the airlines’ view to the Airports Commission as part of the forthcoming consultation on airport capacity.”