From The Sunday Times
September 16, 2007
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article2459633.ece

BAA has begun lobbying for a full-length new runway at Heathrow ahead
of the expected launch next month of a consultation document on
expansion of the London airport.

The move represents a switch for BAA, which has in the past advocated
only a short extra runway, suitable for the small aircraft used on
short-haul flights.

Heathrow’s existing runways are full-size at about 4,000 metres. A
full-length strip would allow more flights by larger, long-haul
aircraft.

BAA declined to comment, but industry sources confirmed the change in
policy. “They are pushing hard on a full-length runway which I find
difficult to understand. I think it is because they think, possibly
rightly, that getting any new runway at Heathrow is going to be a
monumental battle, so they may as well go the whole way,” said one
executive.

The government is expected to publish a consultation document on the
expansion of Heathrow next month. This will cover proposals for more
flights on the airport’s two present runways, and for a third runway.

Both plans are expected to be bitterly opposed by local residents and
environmental groups. Heathrow was last month the scene of a “climate
camp” at which green campaigners gathered to protest against
aviation’s contribution to global warming.

The consultation is the result of a government white paper on the
future of air transport issued four years ago. It said that while
there was an economic case for expanding Heathrow, it could not
proceed until local air-pollution issues were addressed. Stansted was
chosen as the location for the southeast’s first new runway.

Meanwhile BAA has appointed Merrill Lynch to conduct a review of the
future of World Duty Free, its airport retail business.

> Both plans are expected to be bitterly opposed by local residents and
> environmental groups. Heathrow was last month the scene of a "climate
> camp" at which green campaigners gathered to protest against
> aviation's contribution to global warming.

They should build the runway right over the top of those twats and shut them 
up for good.

On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:32:51 GMT, Roger Chung-Wee  wrote:

>The move represents a switch for BAA, which has in the past advocated
>only a short extra runway, suitable for the small aircraft used on
>short-haul flights.

I guess the new owners of BAA don't feel they are obliged to abide by previous
policy. 

Perhaps the residents around Heathrow are going to find out what Ron Dennis
just found out, you can't trust the Spanish :-)
--  
Lansbury (Retired)
www.uk-air.net
FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup

"Lansbury"  wrote in message 
news:8oite3ptlblf81oi253nnnj8uhumn12fbj@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:32:51 GMT, Roger Chung-Wee  
> wrote:
>
>>The move represents a switch for BAA, which has in the past advocated
>>only a short extra runway, suitable for the small aircraft used on
>>short-haul flights.
>
> I guess the new owners of BAA don't feel they are obliged to abide by 
> previous
> policy.
>
> Perhaps the residents around Heathrow are going to find out what Ron 
> Dennis
> just found out, you can't trust the Spanish :-)

My guess is that they know that they haven't a hope
of getting the long runway and think that people will
be relieved wthen only the short one is agreed.

tim

On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:15:51 +0100, "tim....." 
wrote:

>My guess is that they know that they haven't a hope
>of getting the long runway and think that people will
>be relieved wthen only the short one is agreed.


Not so sure about that. Look at all the publicity at the moment about how bad
Heathrow is and the delays, even seen government ministers jumping on that
band wagon.

BAA say a lot of this is down to runway capacity and I would think a long
runway will go a longer way to improving those problems than a short one.

They may well have an outside chance of getting another 4000ft strip of
concrete.


--  
Lansbury (Retired)
www.uk-air.net
FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup