Let Britain Fly publish report and letter on the importance to air freight to UK Exports

Let Britain Fly have released a report into the importance of air freight to UK exports.

Some extracts:
“A quick and decisive decision on airport expansion provides that opportunity in a time of economic uncertainty. Because, one of the most compelling arguments for building a new runway is the role it would play in promoting UK trade, in particular boosting British exports.”

“It may come as a surprise, but air cargo accounts for forty per cent of the value of Britain’s exports. From Scottish salmon to pharmaceuticals, Brompton bikes to formula 1 cars, the UK products that are valuable, perishable or are required just-in-time, will travel by air and probably via Heathrow the UK’s only hub airport.”

“UK businesses are already losing out to their French and German rivals in the race to do business with China. Paris and Frankfurt have 60 weekly flights to China compared to 40 at Heathrow, making it more difficult for many British firms to compete effectively. To rebalance and strengthen the economy, the UK needs a hub airport that can compete with our unconstrained hub rivals abroad, providing direct air links to new markets and opportunities.”

“Decades of uncertainty on airport expansion is putting Britain at an economic disadvantage. As our research suggests, for every year that passes without a new runway in operation, the UK could be losing out on as much as £9.5bn in trade with the top ten fastest growing emerging market economies. One year has already passed since the Airports Commission published its final report and we still don’t have a final decision. Can the Government afford to delay further?”

“We believe the results of our research send a clear and compelling message to politicians that further delay on this issue will undoubtedly impact on the British economy and UK exporters both large and small. Indecision on this nationally important issue needs to end.”

“So the message from businesses right across the UK is clear. The Government must make a final decision quickly and back the Airport’s Commission recommendation to build a new runway.”

You can read the full report here:
http://londonfirst.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Importance-of-air-freight-to-UK-exports-PDF-FINAL.pdf

In connection with this report and the press for runway decisions, you can read their letter including the signatories here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/06/britain-needs-a-new-runway-uk-businesses-cannot-afford-further-delay

Let’s hope that a holistic approach is being considered by the government that won’t just be a short-term fix, but will include both measures that can increase capacity now and a complete way forward for the country, including use of valuable regional airports.

The signatories:
Stacey Cartwright – Group chief executive, Harvey Nichols
Chris Grigg – Chief executive, British Land
George Iacobescu – Chairman and chief executive, Canary Wharf Group
Paul Kelly – Managing director, Selfridges Group
Michael Spencer – Group CEO, ICAP
Michael Ward – Managing director, Harrods
Tim Knox – Director, Centre for Policy Studies
Professor Paul Curran – City University of London
Tim Hancock – Managing director, Terence O’Rourke
Robert Elliott – Partner, Linklaters
Stephen Hubbard – UK chairman, CBRE
James Rook – Managing director, Nimlok
Kevin Murphy – Chairman, ExCeL London
John Rhodes – Director, Quod
George Kessler – Group deputy chairman, Kesslers International (in a personal capacity)
Mark Reynolds – Chief executive, Mace Group (in a personal capacity)
Gordon Clark – Managing director UK and Ireland, Global Blue
Iain Anderson – Executive chairman, Cicero Group
John Allan – Chair of London First
Bob Rothenberg – Senior partner, Blick Rothenberg
James Fennell – Managing director, Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners
Dale Keller – Chief executive, The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK
Sam Bowman – Executive director, Adam Smith Institute
Mike Cherry – National chairman, Federation of Small Businesses
John Burns – Chief executive, Derwent London
Surinder Arora – Founder and chairman, The Arora Group
Nicholas Cheffings – Chair, Hogan Lovells
Paul Wait – Chief executive officer, GTMC
Des Gunewardena – Chairman and CEO, D&D London
Hugh Seaborn – Chief executive officer, The Cadogan Estate
Inderneel Singh – General manager, The May Fair Hotel
Sue Rimmer – Principal and chief executive, South Thames College
Bill Moore – Chief executive, The Portman Estate
Mark Boleat – Policy chairman, City of London Corporation
John Ritblat – Delancey Real Estate Asset Management
Jeffries Briginshaw – CEO, BritishAmerican Business
Ian Reeves – Senior partner, Synaps Partners
Mark Bensted – Managing director, Powerday
Michael Hirst – Chairman, Business Visits and Events Partnership
Stephen Phillips – Chief executive, China-Britain Business Council