IN his thoughtful letter (October 22), Andrew Beck outlines the case for Scotland providing a fifth European hub airport.
There are two strands to his argument: that we create a world-class hub airport (with spin-offs as both an ambassadorial target and revenue-creator for Scotland), and that the effect of the two existing competing airports of Glasgow and Edinburgh is to dilute further the Scottish market.
I cannot speak for the creation of a hub, but a single airport to replace Glasgow/Edinburgh makes economic, business and transport sense – indeed the very case proposed by Alistair Mair when he took office as CBI Scotland chairman a quarter of a century ago.
Mr Mair wanted a new Central Scotland Airport to be built. Perhaps with the benefit of perspective, the solution may be simpler – that we overcome tribal loyalties, and agree that Glasgow or Edinburgh is built up, and the other closes.
My vote? Edinburgh wins hands down. It sits at the gushet of two main rail lines and two motorways. Glasgow – the one-time Royal Naval Air Station HMS Sanderling – lies on the wrong side of the Kingston Bridge with no rail link. Prestwick? Let the market decide.
To develop Edinburgh Airport (we need to rename it first) requires vision to divert two rail lines underground into a single station. Can we do it? Which other go-ahead 21st-century nation hasn’t tackled such an issue?
Gordon Casely,
Westerton Cottage, Crathes, Kincardineshire.
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