Cardiff Airport Wins #airpitch Poll for Best UK Airport Capacity Solution
Cardiff Airport Wins #airpitch Poll for Best UK Airport Capacity Solution
AsiaNet 54024
LONDON, Aug. 23, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --
- Western Gateway's proposal for the expansion of Cardiff Airport has been
chosen as the preferred measure to increase the UK's airport capacity in a poll
that received almost 430 votes
Western Gateway's proposal received more than half of all of the 429 votes
placed over a two-week period.
11 of the 29 proposals submitted to the Airports Commission for long-term
solutions to UK airport capacity were included in the poll, hosted by
GlobalAirportCities.com. The poll launched with ten proposals, before being
approached by independent group Fly Cardiff to add the Western Gateway proposal
to the list.
Elevator pitches were written for each of the proposals along with a link
to the full documentation. Despite being added 24 hours after its launch,
Western Gateway's proposal soon soared ahead, securing 54 per cent of the votes
upon closure. It was followed by Birmingham Airport's proposal, which secured
12 per cent of the vote, then Foster + Partners' Isle of Grain solution with 9
per cent.
Western Gateway, a group formed of transport experts and entrepreneurs
specifically to propel the Cardiff solution, proposes the addition of a third
UK high-speed rail connection to Cardiff Airport, turning the airport into
Heathrow's Atlantic terminal. Two high-speed rail connections are currently set
for delivery in the UK. A third, says Western Gateway, could facilitate a
network of airports supporting the South of the UK, easing the pressure off
Heathrow and providing faster connectivity throughout the country. An extended
runway would facilitate larger aircraft, and improved terminal and
infrastructure facilities would allow Cardiff to significantly increase its
capacity for up to 20 million passengers per year by 2040.
Calling for the Cardiff solution to be added to the poll, Fly Cardiff
protested at what they see as a bias towards London-centric airport capacity
solutions. "Why no mention of the Cardiff proposal?" they asked. "With HS2 (the
second high speed railway connection) Cardiff would be highly ranked as a hub
airport and offer a wide range of services for passengers in the South West.
It's not all about London," they said.
Responding to the results, Kelvin Hayes, Lawrence Evans and John Dellarmi,
the three independent founders of Fly Cardiff, told GlobalAirportCities.com:
"There has been much hype in the media that Cardiff Airport could become
Heathrow Terminal 6, but for Welsh passengers it is not so much of a proposal
as an essential requirement. Welsh passengers want routes back (that were once
available and were only lost because of airline collapse and not as a
consequence of lack of passengers) across the Atlantic, to the UAE and beyond,
and with the recent landing of the A380 - the world's largest aircraft, at
Cardiff Airport, many passengers are asking how long it can be before there is
greater access to international travel from Cardiff Airport."
The authors of other proposals included in the poll remained stoic upon
receiving the results. A Heathrow spokesperson said:
"After half a century of vigorous debate but little action, it is clear the
UK needs a single hub airport that can provide the links to emerging economies
which will boost jobs, GDP and trade. The best solution for taxpayers,
passengers and business is to build on the strength we already have at
Heathrow. Our proposals show that vision can be achieved whilst keeping the
impact on local residents to an absolute minimum."
John Morris, Birmingham Airport's public affairs director, said:
"Birmingham Airport's long-term vision meets the needs of both passengers
and the economy. With HS2, the airport is just over half an hour from central
London, helping ease congestion in the South East whilst better serving people
and businesses in the Midlands. A one-airport solution is not a national
aviation strategy. Instead, we need a network of great long-haul airports
across the UK."
The #airpitch elevator pitches and poll results can be viewed here:
http://www.globalairportcities.com/page.cfm/action=library/libID=1/libEntryID=1040/listID=13
Fly Cardiff's full response can be found here:
http://www.globalairportcities.com/page.cfm/action=library/libID=1/libEntryID=1057/listID=12
Notes to Editors
About Global Airport Cities
- GlobalAirportCities.com is the online community website for attendees of
the annual Airport Cities World conference and Exhibition (ACE), and
anyone with an interest in the issues surrounding airport cities and
aerotropoli.
- During its 10-year journey around the globe, a number of major
international airports and pioneers of the Aerotropolis concept have
hosted the Airport Cities conference, including Dubai, Detroit, Rome,
Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Beijing, Dallas, Memphis and now Denver.
- The Airport Cities brand was acquired by UBM in 2012 and from 1st August
2012 Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, the Aerotropolis events
and the Routes and ASM businesses became part of the UBM Live division
of UBM plc.
- UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across
five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new
products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through
premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami,
the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Aerotropolis
Americas, Aerotropolis EMEA and Airport Cities, UBM Live exhibitions,
conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and
certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of
companies across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com
Follow us on Twitter: @AirportCities, @NikiMayYoung
SOURCE: Global Airport Cities UBM Live
本プレスリリースは発表元が入力した原稿をそのまま掲載しております。また、プレスリリースへのお問い合わせは発表元に直接お願いいたします。
このプレスリリースには、報道機関向けの情報があります。
プレス会員登録を行うと、広報担当者の連絡先や、イベント・記者会見の情報など、報道機関だけに公開する情報が閲覧できるようになります。