§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assumptions were made in his Department's appraisal of the A3XX project about the likely demand for these aircraft from airlines flying into and out of UK airports, with specific reference to Heathrow. [121027]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonIn appraising the A3XX project the Department undertook a full market study of the aircraft's prospects. Details of this report are commercially confidential, but a key market rationale of the A3XX is to carry large numbers of passengers from hub to hub. We would therefore expect Heathrow to be one of the airports where the A3XX would operate. The A3XX has been designed to meet the most stringent environment and noise standards.