Air
International links are vital to London’s world city status.
Access to high quality international air travel is vital for business in the capital. London is a leading world city and its international links have always been one of its greatest assets. Adequate airport runway capacity is critical to the competitive position of London in a global economy, but current capacity is insufficient to meet forecast demand. Business leaders believe that demand in London for flights will continue to grow over the next decade, at or near historic rates. If London is to remain globally competitive, new runway capacity in London and the South East is required to provide a growing range and direct long haul flights to business centres and growing economy cities.
The Government will undertake a review of its national aviation policy during 2011. London First has campaigned for increased aviation capacity for London that addresses business needs and environmental concerns. We will continue to make the case as ahead of the Government's review to ensure that all options are considered based on their merits.
Please contact Rob Fox for further information.
Developing a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation: Scoping Document – London First Response
Business leaders letter to The Times
Why the South East needs more aviation capacity - Baroness Valentine speech at the Transport Times Conference
Imagine a world class Heathrow
In recent years the poor quality of the passenger experience at Heathrow - London’s principal business airport - has posed a sustained threat to London, and the UK, as a fulcrum of the global economy.
A London First-commissioned study of the regulatory controls governing Heathrow airport identifies key symptoms of ‘Heathrow Hassle’ - flight delays, long and unreliable waiting times, deteriorating airport buildings and distorted economic incentives - and suggests potential short and medium term solutions to restore Heathrow to world class status.
The report was carried out by London Economics and steered by a group of the capital's business leaders. We consulted widely with business, the aviation industry and other stakeholders on the issues we identified.
Report summary
Full research report
Final conclusions
Jo Valentine's speech to the Waterfront Conference - December 2010
Airport regulation
We have campaigned for a fundamental reform of regulation to put the passenger first. We were pleased that the Government announced its intention to adopt proposals to overhaul the regulatory regime, and committed as part of its consultation to give the regulator a new primary duty to further the interests of passengers.
London First sits on the Government’s recently established South East Airport Taskforce, chaired by Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers, to examine how to improve the passenger experience within current capacity constraints at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Read more here.
London First's latest response to the Government's economic review of UK airports (2009)
