Vulnerable to foreign competition
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While millions of us enjoy flying every year there is a noisy downside for the people who live or work near to airports.
Vulnerable to foreign competition
Heathrow has two runways operating at 99% of their permitted capacity. Frankfurt has three runways, Paris CDG has four, Amsterdam Schipol has five, and all operate at less than 75% of their capacity.
The number of destinations served by Heathrow has fallen from 227 in 1990 to 180 today. Over the same period Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam have all increased their destinations and can offer new slots to emerging economies.
The number of British regional airports served from Heathrow has also fallen, from 21 to 9. But Heathrow’s loss has been the continent’s gain. Amsterdam and Paris now serve more British regional airports than Heathrow.
| Current passenger numbers (mppa) | Runways | Destinations served | Current ATMs (arrivals and departures) | 2010 ATM capacity | % full | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 67.5 | 2 | 180 | 477,000 | 480,000 | 99% |
| Frankfurt | 52.8 | 3 | 265 | 490,000 | 660,000 | 74.2% |
| Paris CDG | 56.8 | 4 | 223 | 541,000 | 710,000 | 76.2% |
| Amsterdam Schipol | 46.1 | 5 | 260 | 440,000 | 600,000 | 73.3% |
Table key
mppa: million passengers per annun
ATMs: air traffic movements
% full: Current ATMs as a proportion of 2010 capacity
In a globally competitive world, standing still is not an option. If the UK does not meet the evolving needs of business, then business will simply move elsewhere, with other European airports eager to provide the destinations Heathrow cannot.
