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Air chiefs: G20 summit will cause delays at Heathrow
Nicholas Cecil5 Mar 2009
Tens of thousands of airport passengers face delays and cancellations when Britain hosts the G20 summit of world leaders in London, airline chiefs have admitted.
Virgin Atlantic warned disruption was “inevitable” next month if all the prime ministers and presidents flew into the UK through Heathrow. British Airways believes the airport will encounter “pressures” similar to those experienced when then US president George Bush visited the UK last June.
An estimated 40,000 passengers suffered delays which were blamed on the president's trip. Both airlines are now urging ministers to consider using other airports, possibly the military base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Aviation sources suggested other London airports including Gatwick and Stansted may be used but this is likely to increase the complexity of the multi-million-pound security operation.
Geoff Clark, head of flight operations regulatory affairs for Virgin, told the Commons all-party transport committee that steps would be taken to minimise problems if only Heathrow was used, but said: “Will there be disruption? Inevitably, I would imagine there would be.”
Captain Dean Plumb, manager of technical developments for British Airways, said that ministers, BAA, air traffic chiefs and airlines should examine using other airports. Gordon Brown hopes the summit will boost his flagging poll ratings as he takes centre stage in the global response to the economic crisis.
But Tory MP Mark Pritchard, who sits on the transport committee, stressed the G20 on 2 April would be attended by US President Barack Obama and at least 19 other world leaders. He said: “Ministers have not learnt the lessons of the past. Their inaction means more disruption for the travelling public.”
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Building on the experience of previous visits, we have been working with the airport operator and air traffic control and are confident that any disruption will be kept to a minimum.”
Reader views (8)
The threat of disruption is inevitably going to put some tourists off travelling, just when the service economy needs it most. I have already postponed my personal travel plans. Good thinking, all those in charge!
- Markwright, Milan, Italy, 06/03/2009 09:26
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Here in Cambridge we have a military level airfield equipped with ILS CAT3 and direct access to London via the M11 . There is very little air traffic using the airport apart from the odd light aircraft and C130's from the RAF in for servicing. This would be perfect for arriving heads of state without the need for total chaos to the general public at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. Plus Heathrow is hardly a showpiece for the UK now is it? Though there is a great Italian restuarant on the Sipson Road.
- Richard, Cambridge, 05/03/2009 15:30
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Why not hold the summit meeting via digital link-up - thus avoiding the necessity for all these leaders to travel here - and save the UK tax payers millions in security, hospitality, etc.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 05/03/2009 12:49
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Once again Brains and Minds are not focussed.
- David., Chertsey.UK., 05/03/2009 12:34
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the airport at timbouctou is much less frequented. why has it always to be london? it´s disgusting!
- Dominik Von Muehlberg, Cologne, Germany, 05/03/2009 12:16
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Why not fly them all into Northolt? Then there will be no disruption. And they will even have a relatively easy drive into central London on the M40, compared to the nonsense that is the M4 from Heathrow.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 05/03/2009 11:39
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Any blinking excuse to cover up the shoddy running of our airports.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 05/03/2009 11:38
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I thought the main reason why we pay to keep RAF Northolt operational was to allow VIPs to use it as an alternative to Heathrow. If it is not functioning properly then close the airfield down.
- Bethany Williams, London, 05/03/2009 09:46
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