Heathrow cannot rest on laurels as Gulf rises – Hogan
London Heathrow risks losing its status as a global air traffic hub through lack of long-term planning, according to someone who should know – James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad.
Hogan told Britain’s Guardian newspaper that the growth of Gulf hubs could persuade passengers to bypass Heathrow when making long-haul trips.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, is buying into Virgin Australia and has been given the go-ahead to acquire up to 10%. Qantas, for its part, is contemplating some sort of tie-up with Emirates, which might eventually make it concentrate on the Gulf rather than the Kangaroo Route.
Hogan said carriers were already making decisions about allocating fleets and routes for the next 30 years. They were unsure about Britain’s position in their plans. The current Conservative Government has ruled out further expansion of London Heathrow. Voters generally don’t want a bigger Heathrow but the travel and aviation industries, backed by business, are lobbying for it.
Hogan told the paper: “When cities make decisions about an airport the infrastructure moves towards it – but that doesn’t happen overnight.” He said constraints on British aviation would give the Gulf the competitive edge. It was a “long-term game and the challenge to the European hubs is growing”.
While Hogan said it was premature to describe the Gulf as a world centre for aviation, he said its position at the crossroads of global air traffic would present opportunities. Its nearness to the relatively untapped Indian market would also benefit Gulf airlines and hubs. These include Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Written by : Peter Needham
I doubt that the Gulf will ever be anything more than a hub for Airlines (Passing Through) whether it be to Europe or the UK. I see some of the other capital cities within the UK taking up the Heathrow slack and becoming an International destination. Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow come to mind and would certainly gain from the extra business, as the carriers from Asia start to utilise their services.