Heathrow trumpets air quality report in expansion plan

A new report investigating potential air quality concerns as a result of any expansion of Heathrow has been held up by the airport operator as evidence supporting its plans. A Virgin Atlantic aircraft descends into Heathrow A Virgin Atlantic aircraft descends into Heathrow The Airports Commission’s report, published last week, says that there are “no predicted exceedences of the air quality objective at any receptor location, in either the Do-Minimum or Heathrow NWR scenarios”. Heathrow has proposed a comprehensive air quality mitigation strategy for expansion, including an extensive surface access strategy, which will limit airport-related road traffic and improve air quality. Heathrow claims to have cut emissions by 16% in the last five years. “Thanks to investment by the airport 40% of passengers now arrive by public transport and this will only increase when Crossrail arrives in 2019 and the Piccadilly line upgrade is complete. And more can be done as the reason for air quality currently exceeding EU levels north of the airport is road traffic on the M4,” the operator said in a statement. Last week Heathrow announced its 10-point air quality blueprint. As part of that plan the airport is discussing with the Mayor of London how London’s Low Emissions Zone can be extended to the M25 and, in time, the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, and replace diesel buses and coaches serving Heathrow with hybrid or alternative vehicles. The Airports Commission suggested some further mitigation measures in its report including use of biofuels, an Ultra Low Emissions Zone and reduced engine taxiing. Heathrow is already working on delivering those changes, it said. “This evidence from the Airports Commission is great news for Heathrow expansion. It shows that our plan, which has been produced with local community views at its core, can be delivered without exceeding air quality limits,” said John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow Airport. sourced:traveldailymedia.com