Ringway to the rescue?

SHAW’S David Bentley, one of the world’s leading proponents of airport strategy, is pleading for Manchester Airport to ease pressure on Heathrow and Gatwick.

Mr Bentley, proprietor of Big Pond Aviation, an internationally-renowned aviation consultancy, is responding to the Coalition Government’s publication of a scoping document, which invites comments before devising its strategy some time next year.

Arguing that since the Coalition Government came into power it has ignored aviation, Mr Bentley added: “Except for axing the third runway at Heathrow Airport, rejecting mixed-mode runway-use which would increase efficiency, declining a second runway option at Stansted or Gatwick and any extensions to ‘regional’ airports not already agreed.”

He points out that Heathrow is operating at 99 per cent capacity on its two runways, Gatwick at 100 per cent — the busiest single-runway airport in the world — and the in general the south-east is ‘full to bursting’. In addition, London Mayor Boris Johnson is pleading for a new airport to be built to the east of London, effectively to replace Heathrow, but the Government refuses to entertain the idea, he adds.

Mr Bentley added: “Not only that, the UK has the highest aviation taxes in the world.”

Mr Bentley suggests a way of relieving pressure on London airports by redirecting connecting traffic.

“For example, a passenger bound for the US from Norwich would connect there via Manchester and someone flying from South Africa to Aberdeen would also do so via Manchester.

“Manchester also has a better road system supplying the airport than Heathrow — and a central rail station. This would provide breathing space for the London airports.

“The benefits to Manchester would be additional air service on mid to long-haul routes and inward investment.”