SPECIAL INTEREST PAPER
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2014
The Economic Impact of Short Term Airport Capacity Options Improving airport capacity in London and the
n marginal capacity uplift options – measures
South East is crucial in ensuring connectivity to new
likely to deliver a small improvement in capacity
and existing global business markets, and the UK’s
(between 1 to 3%), for example changes to air
long term competitiveness. Although London is
traffic control procedures;
currently well connected by air to global markets,
n options which offer reduced delays – for example
other hubs are demonstrating rapidly increasing
improvements in the use of runways, airport ground
connectivity, while Heathrow is already operating
movements or flow of passengers through terminals;
at 98% capacity.
and n options with the potential to redistribute traffic –
This report estimates the potential economic benefits
options which improve the relative attractiveness of
of the short term proposals received by the Airports
airports, for example surface access improvements
Commission, and considers them in four categories:
at Gatwick and Stansted, and regulatory changes.
n capacity uplift options – measures likely to
However, the report also demonstrates that
deliver an increase in capacity (between 10 to
longer wterm solutions are needed to maintain
17%), for example mixed mode at Heathrow and
resilience, connectivity and competitiveness.
development of an airport at Northolt;
Full report available online www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/researchpublications