Airlines agree that an extra runway at Heathrow offers substantial economic and social advantages, but want costs impacting they and their customers to be kept “under control”.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry association that represents UK carriers, said: “Heathrow is the most expensive airport in the world and passenger charges have trebled in the past decade.
“Carriers back expansion but on the strict condition that costs are kept under control, and we support the Secretary of State in his determination to keep charges as close as possible to current levels.
“We look forward to seeing the detail behind the Heathrow proposals, but we need the right solution at the right price, at the right time, in order to meet the needs of customers, and over time the aim should be for charges to come down as the number of movements increase.”
Airlines UK also support the aim of increasing the number of UK airports served by Heathrow, but pressed “these are decisions that will be made by airlines”, not Heathrow.
