Birmingham boss appears at Coventry airport inquiry
19.04.06
Birmingham International Airport's Managing Director explained this week why he opposes expansion of its rival in Coventry - and insisted it had nothing to do with money.
Richard Heard outlined his reasons why a 10,000 sq ft permenent terminal capable of handling two million passengers a year at Coventry Airport should not be built. Coventry Airport's managers believe Mr Heard's objections are motivated by greed - but he said his views are based on government policy, rather than money.
Giving evidence to an inquiry at Leamington town hall into whether the terminal should be built, Mr Heard said: 'In aviation terms, there is no need for the proposed development of Coventry to 2 million passengers per year.' He cited a government White Paper about air transport, which supported expansion at Birmingham but failed to back Coventry's new terminal explicitly.
He said: 'The proposals for Coventry could seriously harm or even undermine the ability of Birmingham to develop as envisaged in the White Paper and deliver major employment and economic benefits for the Midlands. The close proximity of the airports, combined with the 'crossing' alignment of the runways, creates a conflict of demand for the same airspace.'
'This already causes delays and disruption to flights at Birmingham, and this is likely to get worse in the future as activity levels increase. Delays and disruption could undermine our ability to retain and attract airlines and serve the Midlands' transport needs in a sustainable manner, as set out in national and regional policies.'
Mr Heard also raised a familiar theme of contrasting Coventry's proposed public transport links - one bus every 30 minutes from the city centre - with Birmingham's. He said: 'We are now served by 201 trains, 211 bus services and 50 coach services per day. We are a highly sustainable airport in accordance with government policies.'
But Mr Heard faced three days of cross-examination this week from Peter Village QC, representing Coventry Airport, who made his views on Birmingham's position clear at the start of the inquiry. He described its objections as 'misconceived and threadbare, exposing the naked commercialism beneath.'
Mr Village added: 'So far as competition is concerned, it is of course absurd to suggest that the use of Coventry Airport for an additional million passengers per year could have any material impact on Birmingham at all. It is so insignificant that it is merely a fraction of Birmingham's margin of error for its forecasting.'
The inquiry will continue until July, whereupon the inspectors chairing it will compile a report for deputy. Prime Minister John Prescott, who will decide whether to grant permission for the terminal.
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