NEWS RELEASE - Tuesday 16th December 2003

Air Transport White Paper: No new runways in Scotland "the only realistic option"

TRANSform Scotland today described the Air Transport White Paper's decision to rule out any new runways at Scotland's airports for 20 years as "the only realistic option." However, it is disappointing that the Paper presents no measures - such as an aviation fuel tax or an emissions charge - to restrain climate change emissions from aviation.

Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said:
"It is unsurprising that the Government has said that there is no need for new runways in central Scotland for the next 20 years. Even if the Government allows air transport to grow at its unsustainable growth rates, there will still be spare capacity at Scotland's airports for a long time to come. It is simply the case that Scotland's level of population is insufficient to support the kind of growth in air travel that some people would like to see. The idea that Scotland could ever have an international hub airport was just plain daft."

"Today's decisions gives the Government breathing space to deliver high-speed rail links to the continent in order to reduce the need for short-hop air carriers to exist, and to ensure the delivery of a European-wide aviation emissions charge in order to ensure that air transport pays for its out-of-control climate change impacts. Only once it has delivered here should runway expansion at Edinburgh Airport be considered."

"Any new runway developments at Scottish airports must fit with the Scottish Executive's planning policies, their commitment to implement Strategic Environmental Assessment, and conform with the Executive's commitments to sustainable development and environmental justice."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

[1] TRANSform Scotland's response to the air transport consultation is available at http://www.transformscotland.org.uk

[2] See Airport Watch's website http://www.airportwatch.org.uk for further information on the social and environmental consequences of air transport growth.