The Freight Transport Association commissioned York Aviation, with support from Transport for London, to consider the potential long-term effects on the UK economy, the air freight industry and freight customers in the UK arising from the runway capacity options identified by the Airports Commission.
The report assesses how the air freight market is likely to react to various scenarios arising from a Gatwick option, including a continued focus on Heathrow by long-haul scheduled operators providing belly-hold air freight services and the possibility of split operations between Heathrow and Gatwick. The report supports the FTA’s own analysis that this would lead to higher costs due to additional trucking and significant inefficiencies through duplication of operations, increased transit times and delays.