Airports
Airline Alliances Speak Out for Heathrow in London Airport Row
The UK’s independent Airport Commission is now considering no fewer than 50 separate proposals for developing additional airport capacity for London, but major airline alliances have made it clear that they would prefer to remain at Heathrow Airport. (Photo: BAA)
The UK’s independent Airport Commission is now considering no fewer than 50 separate proposals for developing additional airport capacity for London, but major airline alliances have made it clear that they would prefer to remain at Heathrow Airport. (Photo: BAA)

The world’s three leading airline alliances have signaled their unwillingness to relocate from London Heathrow Airport in the event that a government-appointed commission proposes the development of a second hub airport for the UK capital. Statements made to the Financial Times newspaper last week by Oneworld (led by British Airways), Star Alliance (which includes Lufthansa, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines) and SkyTeam (which includes Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and China Eastern) have strongly suggested that they would favor the option of substantially redeveloping Heathrow and retaining it as London’s prime hub. If nothing else, it seems clear that none of the alliances would accept forcible relocation if authorities allow its competitors to stay at Heathrow.