‘I am not a flight-shaming eco warrior’ says transport minister

The transport secretary has stated she is “not a flight-shaming eco warrior” forward of her determination over whether or not Gatwick airport might be allowed to broaden.

Talking at an business occasion on Tuesday, Heidi Alexander stated she loved flying and valued aviation’s position within the economic system and development.

A choice is anticipated later this week on whether or not the airport in West Sussex can broaden its operations to 2 concurrently functioning runways.

The enlargement plans are controversial and a few MPs, native authorities and residents are strongly opposed resulting from quite a lot of considerations together with noise ranges.

If given the inexperienced mild, Gatwick says the extra runway will allow an additional 50,000 departing flights a 12 months, by the top of the 2030s.

Alexander stated the federal government would do “all we are able to to assist the sector and take the brakes off development”.

Gatwick needs to relocate its northern runway, which is presently used just for taxiing or in emergencies, and says it may very well be accomplished and operational by the top of the last decade.

This may value an estimated £2.2bn and can be a privately financed undertaking.

Alexander made her feedback throughout a speech on the annual dinner of commerce physique Airways UK in London on Tuesday night.

“I’ve no intention of clipping anybody’s wings. I’m not some kind of flight-shaming eco warrior. I like flying – I at all times have,” the transport secretary stated.

Alexander additionally raised the difficulty of local weather change an excessive climate occasions.

She stated she didn’t desire a world “ravaged” by this however needed a world the place her nieces and nephews are usually not denied the chance to journey.

“This Authorities believes in rising airport capability. We’re bold for the sector. However these strict standards should be met if we’re to steadiness the wants of immediately with the requirements of tomorrow,” Alexander stated.

The transport secretary’s feedback come as Heathrow airport stories report passenger numbers for 2024 up 6%, reaching 83.9 million.

Heathrow chief government Thomas Woldbye stated the rise underlined the necessity for enlargement.

“2024 underscores why [Heathrow] is the UK’s gateway to development,” he stated.

Plans are being drawn up after the federal government backed a 3rd runway at Heathrow – the UK’s busiest airport, in January.

Mr Woldbye stated he was eager for enlargement to go forward at tempo and believes with non-public funding, planes may very well be taking off from a 3rd runway inside a decade.

Environmental campaigners and native communities oppose the choice, elevating considerations about air pollution and noise.