Airports Commission
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| Airports Commission | |
|---|---|
| Name | Airports Commission |
| Formation | 2012 |
| Dissolved | 2015 |
| Purpose | Aviation capacity analysis |
| Headquarters | London |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Leader name | Sir Howard Davies |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
Airports Commission
The Airports Commission was a public body tasked with examining options for increasing United Kingdom aviation capacity, advising Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and influencing planning decisions affecting London and the South East of England. Chaired by Sir Howard Davies, the commission operated during the Cameron ministry and reported in 2015, interacting with institutions such as the Civil Aviation Authority, Department for Transport (UK), International Air Transport Association, and stakeholders including Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, and municipal authorities in Westminster. Its work intersected with debates involving infrastructure projects like High Speed 2, environmental frameworks such as Climate Change Act 2008, and transport bodies including Network Rail.
Background and Establishment
The commission was established in response to long-standing capacity constraints at major London airports and contested proposals like expansion at Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport. The decision followed pressure from figures including former Prime Minister David Cameron, transport secretaries tied to the Conservative Party (UK), and industry campaigns led by trade groups such as the Airports Council International and British Chambers of Commerce. Historical precedents included the Roskill Commission and discussions linked to the Birmingham Airport expansion and the legacy of projects like London Stansted Airport development. The commission drew on modeling approaches used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for emissions scenarios and planning tools adopted by Transport for London and regional authorities like the Greater London Authority.
Mandate and Objectives
The commission's remit was set by the Department for Transport (UK) and focused on evaluating short, medium and long-term options for additional airport capacity serving London and the South East of England. Objectives included testing proposals against criteria involving connectivity to global hubs such as New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong, assessing economic impacts similar to analyses by the National Audit Office, and appraising environmental outcomes in light of commitments under instruments like the Paris Agreement framework debates and obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The commission commissioned evidence from bodies including the Civil Aviation Authority and consulted with regional entities such as Surrey County Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Membership and Leadership
The commission was chaired by Sir Howard Davies, formerly of London School of Economics and the Financial Services Authority, supported by commissioners drawn from sectors including aviation, planning and economics. Notable members included economists with ties to Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and aviation experts who had worked with International Civil Aviation Organization and Airbus or Boeing. Secretariat support came from civil servants seconded from the Department for Transport (UK) and consultants from firms like Arup (company), Mott MacDonald, and Steer Davies Gleave. Stakeholder engagement involved representatives from Heathrow Airport Holdings, Gatwick Airport Limited, regional councils including Surrey County Council, and community groups such as Stop Heathrow Expansion.
Key Activities and Reports
Activities included public consultations, technical appraisals, capacity modeling, and publication of interim and final reports. Major outputs were the 2013 interim report and the 2015 final report, which presented shortlisted options including a new runway at Heathrow Airport, an additional runway at Gatwick Airport, and other schemes evaluated via cost–benefit frameworks akin to analyses by the Office for National Statistics and scenario testing informed by aviation forecasting from IATA data. The commission convened expert panels including acoustics specialists from institutions like University College London and environmental modelers with links to Met Office datasets. It engaged with parliamentary scrutiny through evidence sessions before the Transport Select Committee and produced annexes on topics such as surface access integration with High Speed 2 and freight corridors managed by Network Rail.
Recommendations and Impact
The commission recommended a preferred scheme and provided criteria for decision-making, ultimately endorsing a northwest runway at Heathrow Airport as the optimal long-term option while listing Gatwick Airport expansion as an alternative. The findings influenced subsequent policy choices by the Cabinet of the United Kingdom and informed debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords. Its economic assessments referenced metrics used by the Treasury (United Kingdom) and considered benefits for international connectivity affecting trade missions to markets like China and United States, and implications for carriers such as British Airways and EasyJet. Implementation considerations touched on compensation frameworks used in past infrastructure projects like Crossrail and interaction with planning law precedent from the Planning Inspectorate.
Controversies and Criticism
The commission attracted criticism from environmental campaigners such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace over aviation emissions and climate policy consistency with targets discussed at United Nations climate change conferences. Local opposition groups including Stop Heathrow Expansion and councillors from Richmond upon Thames highlighted noise, air quality and property impacts, invoking legal challenges referring to precedents from the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Academics at institutions like Imperial College London and University of Oxford debated the commission's use of forecasting models and demand elasticity assumptions similar to critiques made of major projects analyzed by the National Audit Office. Questions were raised about conflicts of interest and consultant influence involving firms with client relationships with Heathrow Airport Holdings and Gatwick Airport Limited, and commentators from outlets such as The Guardian, Financial Times, The Times (London), BBC News and The Telegraph provided sustained coverage and editorial criticism.