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Jim Mason
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 Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:04 am Post subject: Invest in air routes to stay on top, says airport boss |
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Invest in air routes to stay on top, says airport boss
BAA Press Release 22/11/06
Scotland must continue to invest in air route development if it is to reap
the social and economic benefits of aviation growth and compete in an
increasingly challenging global tourism market.
That was the message to Scotland’s transport sector from Stephen Baxter,
Managing Director of BAA Scotland, the company that owns Glasgow, Edinburgh
and Aberdeen Airports, as he spelled out his – and BAA’s vision - for the
future of air travel in Scotland.
In a wide ranging speech to the Scottish Transport Awards conference in
Edinburgh, he said aviation brought “significant social and economic”
benefits to Scotland, through an expanding international route network and
by providing a lifeline to Scotland’s remote communities.
“The industry not only connects Scotland with the world, it also brings
remote communities around our Highlands and Islands closer to the engine
rooms of Scotland’s economy, Glasgow and Edinburgh. So we have an
international perspective, but an enduring local responsibility.”
Since 1999, he revealed, BAA Scotland has invested ÂŁ85 million in route
development, attracting almost 100 new services to some 50 new
destinations. In the past year alone, 37 new services to 29 destinations
have been added, including flights to Hamburg, Helsinki, Berlin, Warsaw,
Atlanta and Orlando.
Scotland, he said, “has never before been as well connected with the world
as it is today. We have strengthened our dedicated business development
team to identify more new opportunities to go out and win new routes for
Scotland.”
Baxter, who was appointed MD of BAA Scotland in January and promoted to
BAA’s Executive committee in September, also outlined his views on a
replacement to the Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund, due to end
in 2007.
“We have enjoyed support from the Scottish Executive’s air route
development fund, a welcome addition to the ÂŁ85 million invested by BAA in
the last five years. In recent months, it has become clear that the EU will
restrict the scope of Scotland’s air route development fund and that is a
great shame. But while the future of this fund may be in question, I
believe this important show of Scottish government support can and should
remain.
“In our submission to the National Transport Strategy, we indicated our
willingness to work with the Scottish Executive to look at the future of
route development funding.
“My early thoughts leave me thinking that we should consider establishing
some kind of marketing fund, which targets VisitScotland funding
specifically at international tourism markets which are served directly
from Scotland.
“It’s not rocket science to suggest that if we support the marketing of air
services at the other end of the route, then we attract more people to
Scotland.”
Baxter also stressed the need to strike a balance between the positive
social and economic impacts of aviation growth and the environmental
impacts of air travel, and announced details of a new carbon-offsetting
initiative supported by BAA Scotland.
“We are all rightly concerned about climate change and the legacy we leave
future generations. But we are equally mindful of the social benefits of
quality airports and the growing importance of the air transport
connections Scotland needs to remain competitive in an increasingly
international marketplace.
“So from this apparent dilemma, can we strike a balance? I believe we can.
In fact, we must find that balance.
“At the highest level, BAA is committed to emissions trading and we look
forward to the aviation industry’s inclusion in the EU emissions trading
scheme from 2008. Emissions trading will make a difference.
“At a more local level, there are areas of the business we can directly
control.
“Against 1990 levels, we have reduced CO2 emissions from our own operation
and we work hard to make better and more efficient use of utilities - what
makes good environmental sense often means good business sense.
“I am also pleased to say that BAA Scotland is the only private-sector
funder of a feasibility study which will look at a Scotland-wide carbon
off-setting scheme for Scottish tourism.
“Independent experts, working for and reporting to the tourism innovation
group, will carry out this study.
“I accept that off-setting is not reducing and I believe it is important to
make that distinction.
“But providing people with the opportunity to off-set their personal CO2
emissions will make a contribution to the overall effort not only to manage
our collective impact on the environment but to raise awareness of this
important issue and position Scotland as a green destination and a
responsible country.”
Baxter also re-iterated Ferrovial’s long term commitment to BAA’s Scottish
airports. The Spanish infrastructure company is the lead partner in an
international consortium which bought BAA earlier this year.
“I am pleased to say that Rafael Del Pino, Ferrovial’s Executive Chairman,
has spent some time in Scotland and will do so again at the end of this
month. Last week, I spent time with Ferrovial’s group chief executive and
the company’s head of infrastructure, on a whistle stop tour of the
airports in Scotland.
“This interest is, I believe, a reflection of the good business we have in
Scotland and a long-term desire to grow our airports here.
“During these visits, I have taken my new colleagues through the Scottish
business and we have discussed long-term investment plans and the various
challenges, from the climate change debate to the challenging security
regime.
“The short message is that Ferrovial is in this business for the long-term.
“Investing in tomorrow’s transport infrastructure today, and developing a
long term-nation transport strategy, is a good thing for Scotland. Our
record of investment and development and innovation in Scotland bears any
level of scrutiny and Scotland can rely on BAA to deliver in the future. We
will construct Scotland’s world class airport infrastructure and we will
build a strong and lasting route network, connecting Scotland with a world
of opportunity.”
Speech by Stephen Baxter to Scottish Transport Awards Conference - 17
November 2006
http://www.baa.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static%20Files/SB_transport_awards.pdf
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