The boss of Manchester Airport has rubbished Heathrow’s claims that a new London runway is crucial to the Northern Powerhouse.
Heathrow’s chief executive John Holland Kaye last week warned that without a third runway Northern businesses would lose up to £710m.
He argued that ‘unrestrained’ international hubs such as Dubai would sap passengers and trade from the UK - and that only Heathrow could compete as the ‘domestic hub’ for the UK.
However, Ken O’Toole, CEO Of Manchester Airport , has hit back, arguing that Manchester is an international airport in its own right with many direct long-haul routes.
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Manchester, he said, could fill the capacity gap over the next 15 years and beyond if the country adopts a culture of healthy competition.
He said: “The strength of Manchester Airport’s catchment area was demonstrated as recently as last week, when Hainan Airlines’ direct service to Beijing was launched, giving the North its first ever non-stop flight to mainland China.
“There are numerous other examples of long-haul carriers choosing Manchester to launch routes to key markets around the world, including destinations like Singapore, Hong Kong, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and, from next March, San Francisco.”
He said such routes give the north direct access to global destinations - WITHOUT having to travel to London. All, he said, brought significant trade benefits - with the new China flight to bring at least £250m into the economy over the next decade.
He added: “With 22m people living within two hours’ drive of Manchester Airport and spare capacity on our two existing runways, there is ample scope to grow our route network further and drive a re-energised Northern economy by attracting yet more long haul services to key global markets.
“That is particularly pertinent in the context of a congested south east, with no new capacity due to be delivered for at least 15 years, regardless of where a new runway is built.
“The best outcome for business and leisure passengers in the short, medium and long term will be to create a strong network of competing airports across the entire UK.”
Speaking at the International Festival of Business, Mr Holland-Kaye said the government would ‘struggle with the foundations’ of the Northern Powerhouse if a third runway isn’t built.
