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Tube decision is detrimental to Heathrow

The decision to retard the operation of the London Underground by one hour on Saturday mornings is detrimental for passengers and airport staff. (Refer www.tfl.gov.uk/tube)

The world’s biggest international airport is already under-served by the current schedule, so delaying the start by another hour degrades the service even more.

Commenting on the decision by Transport for London, BAR UK’s Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick, said ‘Approximately two thousand passengers arriving on early morning flights will find they have to wait over an hour for the first tube service into central London; that is unacceptable and will force many in to making other arrangements by road.

‘Likewise, several thousand more will not be able to reach the airport by tube in time for departing flights, so will also need to make alternative arrangements.

‘Airport staff, who work on shifts, will find that there is no tube service to get them to the airport, so they too will be forced to make other arrangements by road. Having to do so will then affect the value of their tube season tickets, running the risk that road travel will replace the tube completely for many of these workers.

‘The Government’s white paper on aviation calls for airports to reduce their environmental impact. The airport operator, BAA, and its airline customers, are all trying to do just that, so the decision to run the Tube later on Saturday mornings is a retrograde step, and also out of step with Government policy.’

For editors:
BAR UK represents 92 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, Government departments, regulators and airport operators. Full details of its work can be found on www.bar-uk.org

For further information contact: Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive BAR UK
Tel: 020 7393 1261 Fax: 020 7393 1206 Email: mike.carrivick@bar-uk.org .