LONDON HEATHROW airport is gearing up for a 60% passenger-traffic increase as its owner BAA fires the first shots in the political war for clearance to build a fifth terminal (T5).
The public inquiry into the case for T5 starts in May. If BAA's case is defeated, Heathrow's capacity will peak not far above the 51 million it was expected to handle in 1994.
By 2016, if the full development is cleared, the completed T5 will have added 30 million to the airport's passenger-handling capacity, says BAA.
BAA's projections show that, compared with the 393,000 passenger flights handled in 1993, Heathrow passenger-aircraft movements without T5 would grow to 417,000 by 2016 and with T5 would rise to 453,000. BAA contrasts the projected 60% rise in passengers handled with the 8% rise in the number of aircraft movements.
This goal would be achieved by an increase in the average size of aircraft being operated on the present runways.
The UK Department of Trans-port's (DTp's) present London Heathrow Air-port night-flying limitations hybrid system, combining a seasonal-movements maxi- mum with a "noise points" system, approved in July 1993, has suffered a judicial setback.
The High Court, on a technicality, has ruled that the decision to proceed was illegal. The court has, however, ruled that the system may continue as planned for the UK winter season while an alternative is being sought.
The DTp is considering several courses of action, including a return to the consultative process.
Source: Flight International
