§ 74. Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Minister of Aviation if, in view of the increase in passenger traffic at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, he will provide an alternative runway to obviate the inconvenience caused to passengers due to aircraft not landing on account of crosswinds.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI agree that a reliable air service is important for Edinburgh and for the development of the surrounding area but diversions and cancellations at Turnhouse last year due to crosswinds were fewer than 1 per cent. of all actual or planned flights. Four out of every five diversions were for other reasons, such as bad visibility, which would not be removed by the provision of an alternative runway. I am not at present convinced that expenditure on an alternative runway, which is estimated to cost £2–3 million, would be justified.