BAA calls for Heathrow third runway to be reconsidered - Telegraph.co.uk

[PaperMan]

BAA calls for Heathrow third runway to be reconsidered - Telegraph.co.uk

"I think the Government should look at all of the options coolly and
calmly and decide which one is best. I see no good reason for ruling out any
in advance."

The Coalition dismissed the possibility of a third Heathrow runway last year
but next month's paper is expected to include the option of building a new
airport in the Thames Estuary.

Mr Matthews warned this was more of a "long-term" plan and called
for more urgent solutions.

"It's today when airlines are coming to us and saying we want to fly to
London and we say: 'Only if you can buy a slot from another airline can you
fit into Heathrow.' That's damaging to the UK."

BAA, which is 50pc owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial, saw
pre-tax losses ease to £255.8m in 2011 from £316.6m the previous year as
passenger figures across its six UK airports grew 3.7pc to 87.4m.

Revenue was up almost 10pc to £2.28bn.

Heathrow saw passenger traffic hit a record 69.4m last year, up 5.5pc on 2010
and a 1.5m improvement on its previous record of 67.9m, set in 2007.

Mr Matthews said about 1.9pc of that improvement was underlying growth as
Heathrow was helped last year by fewer incidents of adverse weather and
industrial action.

The group, which is being forced to sell off both Stansted and Edinburgh
airports, said it raised £3bn in fresh finance last year and spent £950m –
the majority of it on a £2bn upgrade of Heathrow Terminal 2.

BAA is still "considering its position" on Stansted after losing an
appeal earlier this month.

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