Humberside Airport to get Heathrow direct flight after third runway opens
HUMBERSIDE Airport is one of six that will be served by Heathrow following the opening of a third
runway. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads The Department for Transport
(DfT) said it “expects” the terminal, on the south bank of the Humber, to
be added to the west London hub’s domestic network by 2030.
Heathrow must
work “constructively” with airlines to increase its number of domestic
routes, which currently stands at eight, in order to get expansion
consent, the DfT added. It will also have to provide a “world-class”
package of support for communities affected by expansion, ban scheduled
night flights for six and a half hours and honour its commitment to pay
home owners 25% above market value plus costs for homes which are
compulsory purchased. Belfast International, Liverpool, Newquay, Prestwick
and Durham Tees Valley airports will also benefit from the new runway.
The measures are included in a draft national policy statement (NPS) setting
out why Heathrow expansion is the Government’s preferred option for
boosting airport capacity in south-east England. An additional 260,000
take-off or landings will be permitted each year from the expanded
airport, up from the current cap of 480,000. With the Government shortly
setting out its strategy for withdrawal from the European Union in a White
Paper, Transport Secretary and Brexit supporter Chris Grayling claimed a
third runway at Heathrow would enhance the UK’s global links.
He said: “Leaving the EU is a new chapter for Britain and provides us with a great
opportunity to forge a new role in the world. “We are determined to seize
that opportunity and having the right infrastructure in place will allow
us to build a more global Britain.”
A 16-week public consultation will open on Thursday, with scrutiny by the Commons Transport Select Committee
beginning this summer. Information events will be held near the airport
and around the UK. Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park and North
Kingston, Sarah Olney, accused the Government of being “so desperate” to
reassure businesses about its Brexit plans that it is “willing to
steamroller over those communities opposed to Heathrow expansion”.
John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group Hacan, said it is
important that the Government assesses the consultation “in an even-handed
way” and rejects the plan if the expected impact on issues such as noise
is found to be “too great”.
Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council,
which earlier this week was involved in a failed bid to bring a High Court
challenge against the third runway, expressed concern that the NPS is
“more like a marketing exercise than a genuine consultation”.
He claimed Mr Grayling’s comments suggest “his mind is firmly made up”. A final NPS
is expected to be voted on by Parliament in winter 2017/18. If the project
is given the green light then Heathrow will produce detailed plans for
consultation and a planning inquiry.
The runway is not expected to be operational until around 2025. The Government is also publishing separate
proposals to modernise the way UK airspace is managed, including on the
role of an independent noise commission.
This will influence decisions taken later in the planning process for a third runway at Heathrow. Leeds
Bradford Airport, which already has direct connections to Heathrow,
welcomed the announcement. Tony Hallwood, its aviation development
director, said: “Expansion of the UK’s hub will boost businesses across
the Leeds City Region, by attracting investment and reaching key
international markets from Yorkshire via our direct connection to
Heathrow.”
Read more at:
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/transport/humberside-to-get-heathrow-link-after-third-runway-opens-1-8366926
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