Classic PPRUNE! It's amusing and frustrating in equal measure.
So an independent review has sifted through the evidence, weighed up the complex issues and considered the greater good to recommend a course of action that generates more jobs and nation-wide economic benefits yet the debate on PPRUNE has debased to a mono-dimensional view of the aviation business. Ahhhh, the luxury of idealistic, imaginary worlds...
...Build it where I want it. I've no evidence on which to base the business case but don't worry, just build it and they'll come...
I haven't yet read all the supporting technical documents, but I get an overwhelming sense this is a solid review and the authors should be applauded.
I accept their advice that in the absence of additional capacity at LHR, other European hubs will benefit rather than other UK airports. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise when you see inter-continental airlines only wanting to operate from the UK hub (as Vietnam Airlines recently decided) and UK trade is highly dependent on connectivity of LHR. I can appreciate these are inconvenient truths for those "up north" so perhaps one of you could present a viable business case that will generate >£200bn in trade and over 70k jobs by using capacity "up there".
As a non-Brit, I'm amazed at the obsession with fairness and balance at the expense of common-sense. I see substantial evidence in favour of LHR expansion, little in favour of LGW & none in favour of anywhere else.
I come back to an earlier comment I made - Leadership requires courage - and add that national interest should always outweigh parochialism.
Sorry. Rant over.