Gordon Prentice - Pendle's Campaigning Labour MP
| Heathrow Chaos Blamed on Bush |
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Tags: Press Release | transport | US Politics
| Written by Gordon Prentice |
| Wednesday, 25 June 2008 00:00 |
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Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today called on the Government to make a military airport available for Air Force One following the widespread chaos at Heathrow when President Bush arrived with a huge entourage. In a motion, tabled by the Pendle MP which appears on the Commons Order Paper today, Prentice says he is appalled the Presidential visit led to flight cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers. Speaking from Westminster, the MP commented: "I was particularly incensed to learn that one of Heathrow's two runways was even closed for a rehearsal as well as the Bush party's arrival and departure. Heathrow is already running at 98% capacity so the closure of one runway had a huge knock on effect." "Who on earth makes these lunatic decisions? There are any number of military airfields near London which could be used instead." The Commons motion reads: AIR FORCE ONE AND HEATHROW AIRPORT That this House is appalled to learn that the arrival of President Bush at Heathrow Airport forced the cancellation of over 60 flights affecting the travel plans of over 40,000 passengers and delayed for over 30 minutes the departure of a further 260 planes; sympathises with British Airways, which cancelled 53 short-haul flights; notes with astonishment that one of the Airport's two runways was closed for rehearsals for the arrival of the Presidential party and again for its actual arrival and departure; agrees with BA's Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, that a military airport should have been used to receive the flight of two 747s, one Boeing 757 and four helicopters; and urges the Government to use a military airfield for all future arrivals of Air Force One. |
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 09:36 ) |