Institution responds to Airports Commission report

The Institution's Philippa Oldham says the report is welcome but expanding Heathrow will only meet airport capacity demand in the short to medium-term, and Government should consider expanding Gatwick as well.

Philippa Oldham, Head of Transport and Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said in response to the Airports Commission report backing the expansion of Heathrow airport:

“This report offers welcome guidance for Government on how to deal with the airport capacity crunch in South East England.

“However expanding Heathrow will only meet airport capacity demand in the short to medium-term. In order to future-proof the country’s transport infrastructure and further boost the economy Government should consider the possibility of adding an extra runway at Gatwick in addition to the expansion of Heathrow.

“The report does not offer a rounded view of what the Heathrow expansion will do to the transport network. In order to reap the full benefits we need to significantly boost rail access to help meet the demands of greater passenger numbers and to accommodate an increase need for freight distribution access via the airport.

“The report looks at the impact of air quality and highlights the risks to the surrounding environment. Overcrowding and congestion will be unbearable during peak hours. Now is the time for Government to act. We need a holistic approach to the management of our transport infrastructure. Never before has there been such a need to make sure that we develop an integrated transport strategy. Plans on how the expansion could benefit the everyday running of the airport need to be clarified, for example by adopting the use of new technologies such as electric or autonomous vehicles on-site.”