The debate over the runway capacity of the South East, and the demands that are to come in future years, has rumbled on these last few weeks after a speech from the head of the Airports Commission, Sir Howard Davies.

The Airports Commission has come to the “provisional conclusion” that extra runway capacity would be needed in the South East over the coming decades, and that to rely on existing runways would lead to “a distinctly sub-optimal solution”.

There will be excess demand, even taking into account regional airports and a conservative view of future aviation demand, which does point to the need for a new runway infrastructure in the South East.

AIQ welcomes these developments and are glad that the airport capacity issue is being reviewed. The Department for Transport’s UK Aviation Forecast in January 2013 has already found that demand for air travel is forecast to increase within the range of 1% – 3% a year up to 2050, with the major South East airports predicted to be full by 2030. …Continue reading…