AIRPORT PLANNING AND EXPANSION

An Analysis of Factors Affecting Airport Capacity

Airport Operations

1. Introduction

This paper provides an overview of the current proposals to further expand London Heathrow Airport with a third runway and a sixth terminal. These proposals focuses on the expansion of Heathrow for third runway (Aviation? 1996? 33-41). There was a consultation on the various options for developing Heathrow? to which the Department received approximately 70?000 responses. This study looks at how we got here? where we are and what the future holds for the expansion of Heathrow and it operations. It includes the following: A brief history of how Heathrow has expanded since the Second World War? including the policy initiatives and decision by both the 1979-1997 Conservative Government and the present Labour Government; and an overview of the surface access issues at the airport. The potential environmental impacts of expanding Heathrow and the various proposals put forward by the Government for addressing them. A description of the possible planning processes that might be used for an application for the new runway; a discussion whether the Government announcement of support for the runway pre-empts the planning decision (Aviation? 1996? 33-41). How the DfT assessed the benefits and costs of Heathrow expansion; analysis of the various assumptions used? particularly those used to project air passenger demand and carbon dioxide emissions over several decades; and the implications of changes in those assumptions.

1.. Background of the Company

London Heathrow Airport officially opened in May 1946 after it had been transferred from the military to civilian control in January of that year. The first aircraft to land there was a BOAC Lancastrian from Australia. There were no terminal buildings and passengers checked in at a temporary tent village on the north side of the airfield. International communications needs were handled by a row of telephone boxes and a mobile post office. The only facilities were armchairs? a bar? a WH Smith shop and chemical toilets. By the end of its first year of operation? Heathrow was serving 18 destinations? with 60?000 passengers and 2?400 tons of cargo passing through the airport. As traffic grew the tents were replaced by pre-fabricated concrete buildings (Aviation? 1996? 33-41).

In April 1955 Heathrow's first real terminal? the 'Europa Building' (the current T2)? opened for short-haul flights. In April 1968 a new short-haul building (now T1) was opened - at the time the largest airport terminal in Europe. Terminal 3 was expanded in 1970 to accommodate the new Boeing 747s and in 1976 Concorde began operating from the airport. Terminal 4 was opened in April 1986. In 1998 the Heathrow Express rail link from Paddington was opened and in November 2001 permission was granted to proceed with the building of Terminal 5 (see below). The British Airports Authority was established by the passing of the Airport Authority Act 1966? to take responsibility for four state-owned airports at London Heathrow? Gatwick and Stansted and Prestwick in Scotland. In the next few years? the authority acquired responsibility for Glasgow? Edinburgh and ...