Airport Expansion Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Airport Expansion

Baroness Sugg Excerpts
Monday 3rd February 2025

(1 day, 18 hours ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Portrait Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
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I am not intimately familiar with the proportion of air freight that arrives in Heathrow on aircraft solely adapted for cargo. My understanding is that much of the air freight that arrives there in fact arrives in the holds of passenger aircraft, therefore redirecting it is far from a simple process. But the earlier point about the success of regional airports stands, which is that the Government are very anxious to reopen Doncaster Sheffield and will do everything they can to achieve that.

Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg (Con)
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My Lords, I am sure the Minister agrees with me that expansion must be affordable, improve operation resilience for passengers and freight, and be compatible with environmental commitments. The modernisation of our airspace is a key part of that; modernising our skies is a crucial project that has been going on for many years—I remember it well from my time as Aviation Minister. Can the Minister update the House on the progress of that important project?

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Portrait Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
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I shall have to write to the noble Baroness, but otherwise I agree with everything she said.