Airport forum

BRITISH AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (AOA) were treated to a rare get-together last week when British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh, his opposite number at Virgin Atlantic, Steve Ridgway, BAA's Colin Matthews and Birmingham Airport's Paul Kehoe sat together on a panel.  They faced a series of questions dealing with the future of air transport.  The event was boosted by publication of the Committee on Climate Change report that morning which, surprising some, favoured a Heathrow third runway.  The previous day MPs had also called for Heathrow expansion (see last week’s AERBT).  Walsh was emphatic in attacking current Conservative party policy and warned that it will make the "biggest mistake ever" if it blocks a third runway at Heathrow.  Theresa Villiers, the latest Shadow Transport Minister, is particularly vehement in her opposition but has yet to come up with a practical alternative. www.aoa.org.uk

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