"Does Scotland need a super-airport?"

Friday, September 27, 2002

Does Scotland need a super-airport? 
By Andrew Murray-Watson 
United Kingdom - The Scotsman


THE prospect of a single "super-airport" to serve the whole of the
central belt of Scotland moved a step closer yesterday, with the launch
of a new feasibility study by Edinburgh and Glasgow universities. 

The proposal would see the closure of both Edinburgh and Glasgow
airports, and the redevelopment of the sites for residential and
commercial use. 

The idea is not a new one. The original proposal dates back to the
Sixties and was last aired about 20 years ago. When it was last
examined, the idea did not make sense for a number of reasons, not least
because at the time the economic arguments simply did not stack up. 

But the prospect of a Falkirk International Airport, for example, is not
so far-fetched. About half of the UK population took at least one flight
last year, according to the Office of National Statistics, and in
Scotland, many regard flying as an essential means of travel . 

The economic impact of airports has never been greater. The Fraser of
Allander Institute estimates that Glasgow Airport contributes £709
million to the Scottish economy and Edinburgh Airport £287 million.
Aviation is also a key factor in attracting overseas inward investment
to Scotland and has a major role to play in serving the tourism
industry. 

The launch of the feasibility study by Edinburgh and Glasgow
universities could not be more timely. It follows hot on the heels of a
commitment by the Scottish Executive to spend £4 billion on public
services and will be published in advance of a UK government air
transport white paper next year. 

Included in the Executive spending package is a 70 per cent rise in
public transport by 2005-6 from £414 million to £705 million, while
total transport infrastructure spending will top £1 billion a year
within four years. 

Professor Brian Main, a co-author of the study at Edinburgh University,
says: "This is the time to consider a radical alternative to incremental
expansion at one, or both, of the existing airports. We might not get
this chance again for 40 years. There is a golden opportunity to review
overall transportation needs on an integrated basis, looking forward to
what Scotland will need in 20 years’ time." 

Supporters of the single airport concept claim that it would pool demand
for air travel, leading to a rise in the number of international
connections and provide space for expansion. 

The idea already has the backing of Scotland plc. Backers of the concept
include the entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer; Sir George Mathewson, chairman
of Royal Bank of Scotland; Ian Russell, chief executive of Scottish
Power; and Peter Burt, deputy chairman of HBOS, which owns Bank of
Scotland. 

Mr Burt said: "Now is the time for some serious strategic thinking about
Scotland’s needs 20 years on. Neither airport is currently big enough to
attract more international traffic, but a joint airport serving Glasgow
and Edinburgh would make many more international flights viable. 

"Look at Dallas and Fort Worth airports in the US. Neither was big
enough on its own, but the new third airport has been a huge success. 

"Now that the Executive has agreed to upgrade infrastructure links, this
is the time to have a study and debate about a new single airport." 

The new airport would be served by super-fast rail links from Edinburgh
and Glasgow, paid for by the public purse. The Executive is already
studying proposals to build rail links to the existing two airports and
is believed to be close to committing funds for the projects. 

Currently, only 8 per cent of people travelling to Edinburgh airport use
public transport. 

BAA, the company which owns the airports in the two cities, would pay
for the construction of the new airport. Its expenditure might be
recouped by selling the Edinburgh and Glasgow airport sites for
residential and commercial redevelopment. In Edinburgh, the large
brownfield site could be used to help to accommodate the city’s growing
population without cutting up swathes of greenbelt land. Mike
Hodgkinson, the BAA chief executive, said: "Anything which is in
Scotland’s long-term interest and which makes commercial sense for BAA
is something we will support." 

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said: "The current air
consultation process, which the Executive is undertaking in partnership
with the Department for Transport, deals with the major issues affecting
the future of air travel in Scotland, including airport capacity. 

"This consultation provides the opportunity to debate these issues and
the consultation document considers the feasibility of a central
Scotland airport. We are looking at the strategic development of air
transport in Scotland over the next 30 years, and it is vital to ensure
that the debate is open and informed and we welcome any discussions." 

But the proposed new airport, which would cover an area of four square
miles, has already incurred the wrath of the environmental lobby. 

Colin Howden, the campaign manager for the sustainable transport
pressure group TRANSform Scotland, described the idea as a "hoary old
chestnut". 

He added: "The growth estimates for air travel are completely
unrealistic. The proposed airport is something that will never happen.
There simply isn’t the need. 

"It’s time to face facts. Scotland will never have a hub to rival
Heathrow, Frankfurt or Amsterdam - the population is simply too small." 

The DTI admits in its air transport consultation document that airport
expansion "may impact negatively on green belt or ecological and
heritage resources". 

However, Prof Main said: "A new airport would remove noise pollution
from low-flying aircraft from Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will also ease
road congestion." 

Although the position of Edinburgh and Glasgow airports will limit
expansion at the sites, opponents of a "super-airport" say they have
ample spare capacity, with no new runway required before the year 2020. 

Any decision to build a central Scotland airport would therefore be
based on building for Scotland’s long-term transport needs and not its
requirements for today.


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