Heathrow's champion of third runway is quitting
The boss of Heathrow airport announced his departure yesterday as the London hub’s owner said it would not challenge a watchdog’s decision to slash its charges to airlines.
Colin Matthews, who has led the airport’s campaign for a third runway, said he had decided it was time to go when the airport opens its new Terminal 2 in June.
Heathrow said it would not appeal against the Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to cut airport charges by 1.5 per cent lower than inflation from 2014-2019. The airport had branded the move “draconian” when the CAA announced it in January and signalled it may put investment in the airport at risk.
Once Terminal 2 has opened later this year, I have decided the time is right to pass on the baton
Matthews joined the former British Airports Authority (BAA) – later renamed Heathrow – in March 2008 and oversaw the sale of airports such as Stansted to allay competition concerns.
He succeeded in December in getting the airport’s proposal for a third runway short-listed as one option in a review of UK airport space led by Sir Howard Davies.
Matthews has maintained that Heathrow needs to be expanded because it is the UK’s only hub airport, allowing passengers to change flights as well as arrive in and leave the UK.
He will keep the job until a successor has been chosen. Matthews said: “Once Terminal 2 has opened later this year, I have decided the time is right to pass on the baton.”