The Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP,visited Birmingham Airport today, Monday 6 February 2012, to learn
more about the huge capacity that is available immediately, and how
Birmingham Airport can take pressure off creaking South East airports
.
The debate about recently-launched plans for a "Boris Island"
airport for London has ignited a fierce debate about Britain’s
aviation strategy
.
CEO of Birmingham Airport, Paul Kehoe, said, "We were delighted
to host the Secretary of State’s "fact finding" visit. Birmingham is
a hiddengem and really is the missing part in the aviation
capacity jigsaw"
.
"Boris is right to ask how Britain’s airports can meet growingdemand, and to think in ambitious terms about the answer.
Because, as he rightly acknowledges, the answer is not a third
runway at Heathrow. Everyone accepts that option is now closed
.
"Our message to Boris is simple. Britain’s long-term aviation problem
requires courageous thinking. But make best use of underused assets,
rather than simply adding to the imbalance that has taken place.
.
"And our message to Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, is
that the forthcoming Aviation White paper must recognise the
opportunity to distribute aviation in a way that economically
benefits the whole UK – not just the South East!"
.
opportunity to distribute aviation in a way that economically
benefits the whole UK – not just the South East!"
.
Monday 6 February 2012