HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc1-2W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will remove the safe guarding of land for a possible wide-spaced runway at Gatwick in the event of a decision to proceed with a third runway at Heathrow. [175977]

Mr. McNulty

The Future of Air Transport White Paper says that land should be safeguarded for a new wide-spaced runway at Gatwick after 2019 in case conditions attached to the construction of a new runway at Heathrow cannot be met. The situation at Gatwick will be reviewed at the stage when any planning application for a new runway at Heathrow has been decided.

Mr. Stringer

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the UK airports he estimates will have the necessary pier ready when the Airbus 380 starts commercial operations; [176638]

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of piers being prepared for the Airbus 380 at United Kingdom airports. [176640]

Mr. McNulty

We understand that London Heathrow and Manchester Airports expect to provide full pier-served facilities at the start of A380 commercial operations.

In addition London Gatwick, London Stansted and Nottingham East Midlands Airports should have the ability to accept the aircraft on stand if required, but do not expect to provide full pier service at the outset.

The CAA has communicated guidance to all licensed aerodromes on safety requirements for accepting the A380 at the start of its commercial service.

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