Weekly Wrap | How much should we read into aviation regulator’s Heathrow clamp down?
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a series of measures this week aimed at increasing efficiency at Heathrow airport. In particular, the aviation regulator has upped its scrutiny of how Heathrow’s expansion is delivered and more importantly how expansion costs are kept in budget.
First of all, the CAA announced that Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) would be subject to fines should the cost of expansion burst its budget. This was warmly welcomed by airline bosses and rival expansion bidder Heathrow West, who have repeatedly argued that HAL stands to financially benefit from expansion costs soaring due to a quirk in its contract as airport operator.
New Civil Engineer then revealed that the CAA has appointed an independent assessor to explore the feasibility of having multiple terminal operators at the UK’s largest airport. Again, this is a proposal that Heathrow West has suggested in its bid to “increase competition” at the airport and would suggest that the CAA is exploring all eventualities.
A cynic could argue that the CAA’s change of tack may dampen HAL’s spirits. That is however far from what HAL is saying. In fact, a HAL spokesperson defended the company’s ability to operate the airport efficiently adding that it already faces “unmatched” scrutiny. The CAA has also played down the significance of the study, saying it is just one of a range of issues being explored ahead of expansion.
Meanwhile, Heathrow West is also holding back the ticker-tape. While the firm’s chief executive welcomed the new “cost clause” to prevent expansion costs from rising, he urged the CAA to stop funding HAL’s pre-planning and enabling works costs when speaking to New Civil Engineer.
While it may be too early to attach any real significance to the CAA’s latest moves, it does suggest that HAL’s expansion bid is not as sure fire as we have previously been led to believe.
Elsewhere this week, backers of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon launched an 11th hour funding appeal to keep the project afloat, bridge collapse expert Akram Malik questioned whether engineers have become too specialised to spot fatal flaws and the winners of this year’s Tunnelling Awards were revealed!
This week's top stories:
Exclusive | Aviation regulator hires independent Heathrow assessor
Heathrow will be fined if airport expansion runs over budget
French firms dethrone Spanish counterparts at Tunnelling Awards
Have engineers become 'too specialised' to spot fatal faults?
Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon backers in last-ditch attempt to keep afloat
Crossrail reveals complex handover plans involving 200,000 documents