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Airport operator BAA has responded to new transport proposals by the Conservative party by stressing that a third runway at London Heathrow is essential for Britain's future competitiveness.

The Conservatives announced that if they got into power they would oppose plans for a third runway at Heathrow in favour of high-speed rail lines.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers announced a plan for a rail network that would reportedly cut London to Leeds and London to Birmingham journey times to less than 90 minutes and 40 minutes respectively.

She said that the new lines could be the beginning of a high-speed network that could 'one day stretch across the country'.

In response to the plans, a BAA spokesperson said: 'It is not clear how this proposal will resolve the lack of airport capacity, a problem which must urgently be addressed.

'The total number of flights to Manchester and Leeds/Bradford is only 13,356, or less than 3% of Heathrow's total flights. Even if every flight from Manchester and Leeds/Bradford were replaced by a new high-speed rail line then Heathrow would still be operating at 97% of capacity.'

BAA said that the country needs a third runway at Heathrow as well as a high-speed rail network and claimed that prioritising one over the other will 'put Britain's future competitiveness at risk'.

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