THE chief executive of Bristol International Airport seems very confident that the current recession will only affect passenger numbers for the current year
THE chief executive of Bristol International Airport seems very confident that the current recession will only affect passenger numbers for the current year (Airport plans should be shelved, March 12), but this optimism seems a little fantastical given most economic forecasts.
Expanding the airport in the current economic climate makes absolutely no sense. Holidaying abroad is a luxury that fewer and fewer families can afford, especially given current exchange rates, and that is why, month on month, passenger numbers at Bristol Airport have been falling since last year.
Mr Sinclair also seems to think he can accommodate 10 million passengers without increasing the number of night flights. It is hard to see how this is possible - especially given the airport's reliance on the low cost airlines which make most use of late night and early morning flights.
Ten million passengers will inevitably mean more noise, more traffic and more pollution for the thousands of people living under the airport's flight paths - and it is hard to see how even Mr Sinclair can wish this unpleasant reality away.
At least the current downturn could be good news for the tourist industry in the South West. Rather than spending our hard-earned cash on holidays abroad, we're more likely to be spending it on leisure activities here at home.
JEREMY BIRCH
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion
Dugar Walk
Bristol
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