Another decade cannot be lost trying to build a third runway
Just as a chameleon changes its colours to suit its circumstances, Heathrow claims each time that there is a change in the wider political agenda that it strengthens their case for a third runway. The reality it is now harder than ever to deliver. We chronicle Heathrow’s chameleon-like antics below. But not before we discuss pigs and flying…
One animal that Heathrow’s behaviour truly resembles is that of a chameleon.
The Airport have sought to use the EU referendum, its result and now the pandemic to its advantage by arguing that each of these events acted as crucial evidence that their airport needs to expand.
Before the 2016 EU referendum, the airport said, “Heathrow believes that the UK will be better off remaining in a reformed EU” and “A vote to remain offers the best of both worlds.”
Upon the country voting to leave the EU, Heathrow said that “Now Britain needs a positive post-Brexit plan and only Heathrow expansion will help Britain to be one of the world’s leading trading nations - connecting all of Britain to global growth.”
Now, in 2022, they argue that the pandemic serves as the evidence they need to expand: “While we have paused work to expand Heathrow… the crisis has shown the pent-up demand from airlines to fly from Heathrow, as well as how critical Heathrow is for UK’s trade routes and the risk to the economy of Britain relying on EU hubs which can close borders overnight."
Heathrow published their 2021 accounts recently, where they complained of a 50-year low in the number of passengers using their airport. Yet the airport, somewhat bizarrely, claimed that this was evidence of the need for expansion, as there was significant ‘pent-up demand’ to travel. This is despite demand already some 23% below expectations so far in 2022.
This news came as one national newspaper reported that Heathrow were responsible for 5,000 ‘ghost’ flights – empty flights that airlines use to retain precious Heathrow slots – in the first 18 months of the pandemic.
Only this week, a scheme to expand Heathrow was being revitalised. Arora Hotels Limited, which still destructs almost as many homes at Heathrow’s scheme.
Heathrow’s ability to finance a 3rd runway is undermined by its £14bn debt. In October 2021, its majority shareholder stated its reluctance to inject further capital into the Airport as it was not obtaining a sufficient return on its investment.
END THE THREAT NOW, WITHOUT DELAY
Just as a chameleon changes its colours to suit its circumstances, Heathrow claims each time that there is a change in the wider political agenda that it strengthens their case for a third runway. The reality it is now harder than ever to deliver.
Our communities around Heathrow are sick to the back teeth of this never-ending threat of expansion hanging over us. We need the kind of certainty that can be brought about by cancellation of this project, based on the airport’s precarious financial position, not to mention their ability to meet much stricter environmental legislation than when the plan was voted on by MPs in 2018.
Another decade cannot be lost trying to build a third runway when the reality is that it is even less likely than ever before to take off.
Geraldine Nicholson
Stop Heathrow Expansion