'Heathrow hassle' could harm the City

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Kitty Ussher said that excessive delays coupled with the airport's sprawling layout could take their toll on the City.

She added that the Government shares business concerns about queues at passport control, the effect of security measures and the airport's set up.

"I want companies to feel really confident about housing their annual general meetings here. I don't want New York or Dubai executives saying 'Oh God, I don't want to go through Heathrow'," Ms Ussher said.

She added that the main problems that make up the "Heathrow hassle" are the amount of time it takes for passengers to be processed and the layout of the buildings.

Ms Ussher's comments come after tougher security rules have worsened delays at the airport.

These were compounded early this month when British Airways' baggage-handling operation struggled to cope with 20,000 misplaced bags.

The British Airports Authority, which owns Heathrow, was also criticised last week for trying to ban environmental groups from protesting against the airport's expansion.

Up to 5,000 protesters planned to pitch tents for a week near Heathrow from 14 August to demonstrate against plans for a third runway.

But on Monday BAA served an injunction on four of the protest leaders who run environmental groups with members totalling more than five million.

It means members of all the groups, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the National Trust and RSPB, would be banned from setting up a camp near Heathrow.

The terms of the injunction are thought to be so wide they would leave millions open to arrest for travelling on the Tube or possessing a kite.

Joss Garman, from Camp for Climate Action and Plane Stupid - one of the protest leaders served with an injunction - said: "We knew they were worried about the upcoming protest but we didn't realise they would put a gagging order on millions of people... It is by far the biggest crack down on civil liberties we have seen."

The latest passenger figures show the airport is losing travellers to other leading European hubs.

Heathrow's chief executive, Tony Douglas, quit two weeks ago after admitting that the airport was "bursting at the seamsî and in some places was "held together by sticking plaster".