FAC gives cautious welcome to Heathrow expansion

Alan Fisher, CEO of Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC)

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) has given a cautious welcome to the Chancellor’s announcement to permit a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

The trade association, based at the centre of the county’s most important aerospace and aviation region, represents hundreds of businesses in the industry.

Its CEO Alan Fisher, a sector veteran, said that a third runway could help boost the economy and provide much needed optimism for his members.

He said that growth provided by the airport expansion could lead to further investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuels, hydrogen power and cleaner aircraft.

And he welcomed news of a £63m investment for the Advanced Fuels Fund.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves today said that the decision about whether to build a new runway at the country’s only hub airport ‘cannot be ducked any longer’.

She argued that the runway could create 100,000 jobs and that the CBI, Federation of Small Businesses, Chambers of Commerce and the Unite and GMB unions said the runway was ‘badly needed’.

She said: “I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports and make the UK more connected.”

She said that proposals would be invited by the summer and an assessment would be made through the Airport National Policy Statement.

The Chancellor insisted that the project would be value for money and it would be delivered ‘in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.’

She added: “Heathrow are clear that their proposal for expansion will meet strict rules on noise, air quality and carbon emissions.”

Alan Fisher said: “The Chancellor is correct when she said we haven’t had a new runway built for 80 years.

“With a third runway Heathrow would have increased capacity and with upgrades to other airports it does send a positive message to the aerospace and aviation industries.

“The sector has been at the forefront of innovation in making flight cleaner and greener, and has taken onboard the drive towards net-zero flight.

“Every generation of aircraft and every new fuel is far better for the environment than the previous one, so boosting the aerospace and aviation sectors will help power research and development into more new technologies.

“The announcement of investment in the Advanced Fuels Fund is welcome as we have members directly involved in creating new fuels.

“We all know that the Heathrow expansion debate has been raging for decades, with passionate advocates on both sides of the argument.

“So we well have to wait and see what emerges from the proposals for the expansion when they are put forward, and we will be closely watching updates through the Airport National Policy Statement.

“The UK is a world leader in aerospace – and always has been – and to keep it that way we need a government to support the sector in every way it can.

“So announcements of investment in our airports is to be welcomed, but as always the devil will be in the details.

“The Chancellor’s speech does now provide our members with some certainty and that is always welcome.

“London is the economic driver of the country so when London prospers it does have a positive impact in other regions.”

 

Ends

 

About the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium:

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) is one of the longest established aerospace and defence trade associations in the UK.

It has circa 200 members nationally and internationally to serve its membership in the south and south east of England, the heart of UK aerospace.

Through its unrivalled experience and expertise, the FAC acts as an enabler for business between large primes and the supply chain – especially SMEs.

Website: www.fac.org.uk

Phone: 07903 998058

Email: Kim.Yeomans@fac.org.uk – Or contact Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 07788392965