Howard Davies in Manchester

Captain Jock Lowe, promoter of the Heathrow Hub runway scheme, could not make the event.  He would have been a proud man. 

Last week Runways UK ran their latest in a series of conferences discussing the work of the Airports Commission at the Manchester Airport Conference Centre. 

Centre piece, literally towering above the delegates, Concorde G-BOAC in pristine condition. Jock Lowe was BA Concorde fleet Captain.

Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of the Commission was the key speaker.  He said that airports such as Manchester have an "essential role" to play over the next decade in helping the UK meet a "capacity crunch" in the South East.  A new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick would not be ready until 2025-2030, and before this point the regions should continue to develop new long haul routes.

He told the audience that the Airports Commission had decided the regions do not pose a long-term answer to the essential question that it was set up to address which is: "How does the UK maintain its status as a global hub for aviation?"

Asked by BTN what would happen if government would not make a quick decision on the recommendations as indicated by both main parties at the recent AOA gathering (www.btnews.co.uk/article/8088) he said:  “We plan to cut off all routes for procrastination!”   www.runwaysuk.com

Concorde G-BOAC glistened above the speakers, a real credit to British Airways and Manchester Airport

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