Heathrow

[dodger]

Well they have made their decision about the runway and i'm sure we will all have our thoughts on it!!!!

Personally i think it's the wrong one but that is my opinion and i think it will be at least 10 years until they build it.

Roger.

[nigelb]

I can't comment on the location = Heathrow vs Gatwick, but I think the ten year estimate may be about right based on what I saw on BBC World News today. Lots of hoops to jump through before the construction starts.

Nigel²

[saltysplash]

Listening to LBC this evening on way to work they were suggesting that their intention is for at least 60 odd percent of pax will arrive by public transport ranther than by car thereby adding no further congestion to the already stuffed M25 and M4/A4 routes.

What annoys me about this is that every so called railway airport express starts in central London!

I see Boris doesnt think it will get off the ground due to legal challenges on pollution issues.



geoff

[blanston12]

I saw a map that showed where the new runway would be on the bbc website, it looked like any aircraft using it would have to taxi a long way to be able to use it. i can't see how that would be useful. I would think it better to add a second runway at Gatwick.

[Dev One]

Just think of the chaos on the M25 while they dig the tunnel!
The logical thing would be to build another terminal for that runway, but that could restrict the airlines/aircraft that could use it putting more strain on ATC....
Keith

[Nigel H-J]

I don't think that by putting an extra runway at Heathrow will help, it would be like trying to build an inner ring road in the centre of London to ease congestion. All it will do is increase the amount of aircraft already crammed into a small bit of airspace to get into Heathrow.

Surely there are alternatives, take Gatwick which is about 32.9 miles from London or even Stanstead which is 40 miles and build a superfast rail connection to either, I think that Stanstead would be best suited as presently it only has one runway and there is enough land around it that is sparsely populated therefore may be the ideal solution, there is the M11 Motorway that passes close by but that should not pose a problem. Admittedly it does not help the locals but I feel that Stanstead would be the better option given the choice of three.

Regards
Nigel.

[Archer]

I saw a map that showed where the new runway would be on the bbc website, it looked like any aircraft using it would have to taxi a long way to be able to use it. i can't see how that would be useful.

Several years ago Schiphol airport added a new runway to its layout, similar to the plans for Heathrow this is located quite some distance from the main terminal but it still significantly increased the airport's capacity. At Heathrow I think that the major bonus will be that the airport can use two runways all the time, even when runway resurfacing or other maintenance is needed, and three runways during peak capacity hours.

[tonymadge]

I flew to Miami from Heathrow a couple of weeks ago on a A380 BA. Great plane too quiet for me, I like a noisy shaky experience... (flying I mean ) Anyway that p1sspot of an airport is something I will avoid in the future at all costs, a quart jammed into a pint pot. So they are going to build another runway which means the pint pot wil get filled quicker, I waited almost an hour from doors closing to take off due to congestion on the ground ( thats a sunday afternoon as well!) Then on my return I wiated almost an hour orbitting the south coast due to yep you got it congestion on the ground..... So how will a new runway fix that issue??
Heathrow was designed in the 50's and out grew itself in the 90's no room any more for taxi way improvements it is a like the M25 only the cars are bigger and have wings!!!
Terrible airport avoid at all costs.
They should improve Gatwick or build a new one, how about getting Birmingham upgraded??? I would fly from my local airport which has so many flights east that it is going to be renamed Islamabad's 2nd airport! It needs good connections and flights the "other" way to really progress. I would love to see Virgin take up services to the USA, they do 2 flights a day from Mankychester which are always full and getting dearer ( must be the lease's on the new 787) so I am sure a daily flight from BHX would be soon filled.

It will never be choice I fly from Heathrow again, even leaving T3 and driving out felt very claustrophobic due to the cramped and built up area around the terminals. Still I guess it gives Foreign visitors a taste of the UK

[Airspeed]

Well, I don't have an opinion on this, as my chances of really using any UK airport are less than that of me winning a lottery.
Still, I thought I'd say this before Paul K asks if it's correct that I don't have an opinion.

[saltysplash]

Move all Cargo operations to Manston, Closer to the Channel crossings and also saves this Airport from becoming a housing estate, plus provides much needed jobs for Thanet.
Then Just extend 09R/27L at Heathrow as per the Heathrow Hub proposal http://www.heathrowhub.com/our-proposal.aspx

Job done, and the Southside Cargo village can become Terminal 6