RDATE:19112005
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) welcomes the news that the United States and the European Union have reached a tentative deal to expand aviation service and thus increase choice on transatlantic routes.
However, in a note of caution, Head of Corporate Affairs, John Morris, said that the benefits must be shared throughout the UK and not just amongst the 'usual suspects'.
John Morris said:
"The long-awaited agreement is good news, and must now be reviewed by EU transport ministers, who meet in December. An ideal solution would scrap remaining restrictions on service and routes between European and U.S.
destinations and would give airlines the choice on frequency of service, the routes operated, or the aircraft used.
"We want to be assured that the UK regions have the opportunity to benefit economically from the new legislation, and that lawmakers do not become fixated on airports in the South-East, or indeed the large US Metropolitan airports.
"More and more people want the option of point-to-point journeys, and research has shown that such links can massively improve the regional economies that they serve.
"At the moment over 50% of people who live near to Birmingham International Airport make unnecessary journeys to other airports, because Birmingham does not have the capability to offer certain long-haul flights, such as those to the Western USA. Our runway extension, plus liberalisation of the market, could sweep away that barrier, take millions of wasted and polluting car journeys off the road, and bring vital investment into the regional economy.
We are delighted that Continental Airlines operates to New York from Birmingham. From that lead, and with the reduced 'red tape', we hope to see other routes to the USA in the near future".
For more information please contact BIA's External Relations Department on 0121 767 8024/7074/7374.
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