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Chinese Government For The Expansion Of Heathrow Airport
16 - Jun - 2014

Chinese Government For The Expansion Of Heathrow Airport

 

 

Speaking ahead of visiting London next week, China’s Premiear Li Keqiang brought to attention that insufficient capacity was a hindrance for 3 Chinese carriers who want to increase their slot numbers. This is why China is at the forefront in urging the UK government to expand Heathrow airport; as such, the Chinese airlines can launch more flights between the two states; China and the UK.

Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to Britain said that he had already written to the government regarding this particular issue. He proceeded to say that, China would be grateful to see a lift up in capacity in Heathrow airport, which is the third busiest airport by passenger numbers in the world. He concluded by saying that China expects Heathrow airport will have a third runway.

Lack of new airport facility is a possible lug on economic growth as identified by the UK business leaders and lawmakers. They all agree that UK needs new runways urgently. The idea of establishing them, however, is not popular to most of the voters, whose worry is more inclined to pollution, noise and safety they added.     

Strategy director Andrew McMillan on Wednesday addressed The Maidenhead Chamber of Commerce at a meeting, which was held in Cookham. He put on table the airport’s case for a third runway. He said it is important for its capacity to be increased so as to maintain its place as one of the major hub airports in Europe.

Heathrow airport is strategically located; it is within 25 miles of 200 of 300 top companies in Britain, and it links with M25, M4 rail connect to Paddington making it the most perfect location for Britain’s major freight and passenger airport, Andrew McMillan told the Chamber. He also said that a third runway would create about 120,000 jobs of which 50, 000 would be local.

The airport commission is expected to make its recommendations on expanding UK’s air capacity in 2015. Expansion of Gatwick is also a possible option.                     

By Oliver Derek