[媒體名稱]flightglobal [新聞日期]20 December 2019
[網址]https://tinyurl.com/vdwerwp
[內文]
Heathrow now expects to complete its third runway “between early 2028 and
late 2029” – rather than in 2026 as previously targeted – following a
Civil Aviation Authority review of expansion costs.
As part of its economic regulation of the airport’s operator, the CAA on 19
December published a policy update and consultation on the early costs of
capacity expansion.
Heathrow airport now expects third runway completion sometime between early
2028 and late 2029
Heathrow Airport had, the report notes, said that in order to retain the 2026
target it would need to bring forward the timing of certain spending, and
that total early costs would need to be about ￡2.9 billion (in 2014 prices),
made up of ￡500 million in planning costs (or Category B costs) and ￡2.4
billion in early construction costs (or Category C costs).
In response, the CAA asked Heathrow to “consider a range of options for this
spending and for the target date for runway opening”. This prompted the
operator to draw up four principal scenarios and then variations of these
scenarios.
Evidence and views from stakeholders were gathered to inform the CAA’s
assessment of the various scenarios. Work conducted by the Independent Fund
Surveyor (IFS) indicated that Heathrow’s 2026 target was “optimistic, even
with the relatively high level of spending that [the operator] had proposed”
, notes the CAA. An opening date “between early 2027 and late 2028” was “
more realistic”, in the IFS’s view.
The scenario deemed by the CAA to be in the best interests of consumers is
one in which lower levels of early Category C costs are incurred and there is
“a modest delay” to opening the new runway.
There is a degree of airline support for the CAA’s favoured scenario, the
regulator notes, whereas the airport has not been able to secure such backing
for its preferred scenario.
However, the CAA says it intends to “retain a flexible approach” and will,
at the time of the next programme gateway in spring 2020, consider the case
for accelerating early spending. In the meantime, it is taking comments on
its consultation document until 28 February.
Heathrow describes the document as “an important milestone in expanding
Heathrow and connecting all of Britain to global growth”, adding: “It
increases certainty for our local communities and for the job creation,
increased trade and lower airfares that expansion delivers.” The airport
pledges to “review the detail” to ensure it can “unlock the initial ￡
1.5-2 billion of private investment over the next two years at no cost to the
taxpayer”.
But it adds: “Whilst this is a step forward, the CAA has delayed the project
timetable by at least 12 months.”
In its report, the CAA suggests that the scenario it favours involves a delay
of only around six to eight months from the “likely” range of dates for
Heathrow’s preferred option.
CAA group director of consumers and markets Paul Smith stresses the regulator
’s belief that “more runway capacity at Heathrow will benefit air
passengers and cargo owners” and that “timely delivery is required to
prevent future consumers experiencing higher airfares, reduced choice and
lower service quality”.
But he adds: “Passengers cannot be expected to bear the risk of Heathrow
Airport Limited spending too much in the early phases of development, should
planning permission not be granted.”
Smith argues that the CAA’s consultation “reflects this balance” and “
will allow Heathrow’s operator to work towards delivering the new runway
within an achievable timetable” but also “reduce the risk of future airport
passengers having to meet any undue financial burden if the project does not
get planning approval”.
[大意]
原本希斯洛機場第三跑道計畫在2026年底前啟用,但目前至少延後到2028年初到2029年底之間
英國民用航空管理局CAA表示推遲完工可以減少先期預算成本
備註:CAA為英國民航局Civil Aviation Authority縮寫
台灣民航局縮寫雖然也是CAA,但全文是Civil Aeronautics Administration