News
Heathrow falls down airport league
20 March 2006
Heathrow Airport is now only the fifth largest in Europe in terms of routes offered.
Munich will introduce six new routes when summer timetables are unveiled this week, leapfrogging Heathrow to 204.
Frankfurt is Europe's busiest airport, boasting 262 routes, with Paris Charles de Gaulle in second with 223 and Amsterdam, which has 222 routes, in third.
Part of Heathrow's downturn in use is due to the expansion of other London vicinity airports that has taken business elsewhere, notably Gatwick, London City, Stansted and Luton.
The airport is currently undergoing expansion, with a new fifth terminal in the making but proposals for unlimited daily use of both runways were ditched last week.
Derek Twigg, the acting aviation minister, decided against altering the current system of planes alternating use between the airport's two runways, which gives local residents half a day of relative quiet.
Director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Sir Digby Jones, told the Daily Telegraph that many London companies are reliant on Heathrow's services.
"Every time Heathrow loses a route the ability of business to compete takes a blow," he said.
© Adfero Ltd
Munich will introduce six new routes when summer timetables are unveiled this week, leapfrogging Heathrow to 204.
Frankfurt is Europe's busiest airport, boasting 262 routes, with Paris Charles de Gaulle in second with 223 and Amsterdam, which has 222 routes, in third.
Part of Heathrow's downturn in use is due to the expansion of other London vicinity airports that has taken business elsewhere, notably Gatwick, London City, Stansted and Luton.
The airport is currently undergoing expansion, with a new fifth terminal in the making but proposals for unlimited daily use of both runways were ditched last week.
Derek Twigg, the acting aviation minister, decided against altering the current system of planes alternating use between the airport's two runways, which gives local residents half a day of relative quiet.
Director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Sir Digby Jones, told the Daily Telegraph that many London companies are reliant on Heathrow's services.
"Every time Heathrow loses a route the ability of business to compete takes a blow," he said.
© Adfero Ltd
