As for Govenment forcing LBC to sell LRT, who has suggested that?
The government.
https://www.lgcplus.com/finance/luto...ut-24-02-2021/
Alex Skinner, director of local government finance at MHCLG, added that the review would consider “what assets they hold and whether it would be appropriate for the local authority to consider selling those, and if so, over what time period”.
A report to Luton's full council last week said that "a forced sale of assets would have significant implications for the council and it is important for the council to work with London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) in order to ensure LLAL is a going concern and at the same time any support provided are affordable and sustainable from the council’s view point". The council "anticipates requests from the company for aid in ensuring its financial stabilisation".
LRT pretax loss was around £135m for the financial year ending March 31st 2021 resulting in a £199m bailout from the Council. Those losses will continue, as will the debt bill. Let’s remember the auditors have now resigned, which is remarkable, after LRT revalued the airport to reduce the debt to assets ratio.
Plans are now taking place to separate the Dart from LRT by forming a separate company owned by LRT with its own management. It is all part of the plan to off load the Dart in the next few years, which has cost close to £300m but independently valued at only £75m.
At the same time LRT is putting in new layers of management to more isolate it from the Council in an attempt to prevent a forced sale. Even the chair of LRT, who is a councillor is being replaced by a non executive director who has yet to be appointed together with new non executive directors. All these layers of management cost money, which is making the financial situation worse.
IF Gatwick goes for the upgrade of the existing parellel emergency runway, it said this in April 2021, Gatwick told investors that expansion of London's airport capacity was not required until at least 2030
Let’s pretend global warming isn’t happening and just carry on with expansion. 40c temperatures and the burning streets of London are soon forgotten. Amsterdam is maybe indicating the future?