Scottish Travel Sector Backs Heathrow Expansion
Responding to a government consultation, Scots travel agents today called for greater runway capacity in London and the south east to encourage the growth of cheap flights to both short-haul and long-haul destinations.
The Scottish Passenger Agents Association (SPAA) said that ministers should reconsider their opposition to a third runway at London Heathrow Airport and commission one as soon as possible, in their official response to the Department for Transport’s aviation consultation document "Developing a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation."
The SPAA also called on the government to invest, promote and develop more high-speed rail services between Scottish cities and London, alongside a greater range of cheap flights within the UK. Transport services should serve to strengthen London airport access and generally make travel to the capital easier, it said.
Another priority flagged up by the association was the development of new "point-to-point air services" utilising Britain's regional airports and improving the number of cheap flights to Europe and beyond from these hubs. Such flights should use the latest low-carbon and fuel efficient small aircraft, the SPAA insisted.
It went on to call for a swift reduction in Air Passenger Duty – a constant demand across the UK aviation and holidays industry.
SPAA president Brian Potter declared: "We welcome the Government's approach and objective – to create a sustainable framework for UK aviation - and we strongly believe that, to be achievable, that approach must be holistic – fully embracing air, rail, environment, technology and taxation issues."
"Above all, Scotland must be part of a vibrant regional air travel system, contributing fully to an economically and environmentally sustainable UK air transport network that fuels the UK economy, rather than draining it."
General Travel News posted by 
on 24 October 2011
cheap flights, cheap flights to Europe
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1149907.php
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