Aviation Club hosts Wingate

Stewart Wingate,  CEO of Gatwick Airport, was guest of honour at the London Aviation Club last week.  Next month he will be followed by John Holland Kaye of Heathrow.  (See BTN 27 April)

The Gatwick v Heathrow argument regarding the Airports Commission has been much discussed. Mr Wingate concentrated mainly on eco matters.

“Heathrow expansion is environmentally toxic, which makes it politically toxic, but Gatwick’s case has won many supporters because it can provide all the economic benefits of additional runway capacity at a fraction of the environmental costs.
 
“While Gatwick’s plan can be realised within the next 10 years, Heathrow’s expansion prospects have become even less deliverable.  Heathrow is simply in the wrong place.  No other airport in the world points two runways at the heart of a city of 10 million people with the enormous noise impacts that brings, let alone considers adding a third.
 
“The air around Heathrow is continually in breach of EU and UK nitrous oxide legal limits and yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling that will legally bind the next Government to take urgent action to improve air quality is something of a showstopper for Heathrow expansion.
 
“Gatwick’s plan provides the Airports Commission and the Government with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to solve the issue of airport capacity for the generations to come.”  www.aviationclub.org.uk  www.gatwickairport.com

For the full speech click here

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