occasional
The part played by BAA and its predecessors in this is probably no worse than idleness, but when they start claiming that new runways are needed it is appropriate to consider why they have apparently failed to examine more sensible alternatives.
I do not think that it is just BAA's fault. When they were privatised - what responsibility was placed upon them for:
- Maintaing spare capacity for emergencies?
- Providing alternative destination departure points in the regions?
- Ensuring that any growth in consumer demand was met in a measured way?
- Keeping a balance of traffic and the capacity of the area surrounding their airports?
- ???
The answer is, I think, None. They were privatised in 1987 for the usual reasons: To make a short term financial gain for the govt of the day
and to release future politicians from being asked awkward questions when things went wrong.
Unless I much mistake, this is another triumph of Margaret Thatcher's era that has come home to roost.