This is very interesting..
Follow this link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/21024439
Transport committee looking at Aviation Strategy
The first bit is the London guys.
Usual stuff from them although it was interesting they could not come up with specific companies that had been lost because LHR is full..
From about 40:30 minutes Jerry BLackett Chair of Birmingham Chamber of commerce group, as well as Manchester Liverpool and Scotland representatives.
47:15 The Spelthorne MP (1 mile south of Heathrow) interrupts then asks the key question.. Why if Birmingham has 50% capacity do the airlines not go there.
Jerry states that he meets Directors everyday wanting to go to places direct from Birmingham.. and that evern if LHGR is the answer it is letting us down.
53:15 The discussion is around how the UK (London) is promoted at the moment and how it hinders the regional airports.
Remember £50Billion (to build boris island) buys you a lot of marketing abroad promoting the regional airports..
There is a lot of evidence in this, that there is demand for Birmingham and the regions for direct flights to the rest of the world, and it is more how the regions are or are not promoted that is the cause of the problem.
57:15 Redditch MP asks the HS2 question..
58:15 Hs2 gives you options to reduce the pressure and stress on the overheated SE
106:15 Manchester rep raises APD debate..
107:30 Bi-lateral agreements..
1:11 Hub/ or Hubs debate some good points made here especially around why only have 1 hub and Frankfurt only being 30% of the external German market..
1:23 Summary Jerry Promote regional airports as part of the Government overseas promotion..APD was raised again.
It was a reasoned debate that addressed some of the points that are always made on here why we can have more flights in the regions..
You can tell I was busy today.. lol
Adie