The billionaire boss of the JCB digger empire has called for Stanstead to become Britain’s leading airport to move flights way from central London.
As plans are put forward for an expansion of Heathrow airport, Anthony Bamford believes that aircrafts should not be flying over central London.
Rachel Reeves has put building a third Heathrow runway at the heart of her plan to boost the economy amid flatlining growth following her budget.
It comes as last week a tragic plane crash in Washington DC killed all 67 people involved, while an air ambulance crash in Philadelphia ended in the loss of seven lives.
American Airlines Flight 5342 had been approaching Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29 shortly before 9pm ET when the crash with a Black Hawk helicopter occurred.
There were no survivors on either flight, and as of Tuesday, all 67 bodies have now been retrieved from the water.
Just two days later Learjet 55 aircraft departed the Northeast Philadelphia Airport and had been travelling to Springfield-Branson National Airport before it lost control shortly after takeoff.
The air ambulance carrying six people, including a young girl, fatally crashed in a residential area of Philadelphia with one person on the ground also killed.
As plans are put forward for an expansion of Heathrow airport, JCB billionaire owner Anthony Bamford (pictured right) believes that aircrafts should not be flying over central London
Rachel Reeves has put building a third Heathrow runway at the heart of her plan to boost the economy amid flatlining growth following her budget
American Airlines Flight 5342 had been approaching Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29 shortly before 9pm ET when the crash with a Black Hawk helicopter occurred
In a letter to the Telegraph, Mr Bamford questioned whether capital cities should have commercial airliners fly directly over city centres or city suburbs on their approach to or take-off from international airports.
‘If it happened in Washington DC, and two days later in a residential area in Philadelphia, couldn’t it happen in London?,’ he wrote.
He also called for making Stansted the ‘principal international gateway airport’ serving London, instead of Heathrow to move commercial airliners away from the populated city centre and suburbs.
Mr Bamford added: ‘This is likely to necessitate some supporting infrastructure development, such as a second runway at Stansted and upgraded public transport links into the city, but that could all get worked out in the fullness of time. And if, as a consequence, Heathrow should ever cease to operate as an airport, there would be a 3,000-acre site in west London that could be redeveloped for much-needed housing in the south-east of England.’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a major speech last Wednesday to put Heathrow expansion at the centre of her new economic growth plan.
The Chancellor claimed an extension of the west London site was ‘badly needed’ because ‘for decades its growth has been constrained’. The government has asked the airport to put in an application by June, although it is likely to be years before a runway would be operational.
Learjet 55 aircraft departed the Northeast Philadelphia Airport and had been travelling to Springfield-Branson National Airport before it lost control shortly after takeoff and crashed into a residential area
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has emerged as the most senior open opponent of Heathrow expansion.
The Labour politician vowed to block a third runway ‘with any tool in the toolkit’.
Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to Heathrow expansion because of its impact on noise, air pollution and meeting the UK’s climate change targets.
He added the last plans for a third runway at Heathrow involved building a tunnel under the M25 motorway and bulldozing a village.
Downing Street has refused to confirm whether there will need to be a Commons vote to give the green light.
