UK-based hotel and property developer Arora Group has put forward a rival proposal for the construction of a new terminal and third runway at London Heathrow Airport.
The developer believes that the new submission will save £6.7bn (US$8.6bn) when compared to the costs of Heathrow Airport Limited’s (HAL) own plans, which were put forward by its Integrated Design Team (IDT) comprising Amec Foster Wheeler, Arup, Atkins, Grimshaw, Mott MacDonald, Jacobs and Quod.
Arora commissioned a review of HAL’s plans using aviation experts including Bechtel, and believes there are cheaper and better solutions to expand London Heathrow. Arora’s views have now been submitted to the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT).
Arora’s initial review proposes a number of wide-ranging improvements which could be realized as part of a more efficient masterplan. This includes a £1.7bn (US$2.2bn) saving to the terminal design and taxiway system, which would still maintain the same rise in runway and terminal capacity.
Another significant saving arises removal of HAL’s Terminal 2 (T2) expansion plans, saving an additional £1.1bn (US$1.4bn), and scrapping the the £1bn (US$1.3bn) passenger transit system for airside passengers. Arora would also avoid the M25 construction project, stating that it would save commuters almost a decade of inconvenience. This would mean constructing the runway 500m (1,600ft) east of the M25 which has been separately modelled by Bechtel. Arora also believes that it will be able to reduce the land use requirements by 20%, resulting in further notable improvements.
Surinder Arora, chairman and founder, Arora Group, said, “We want passengers to be at the heart of our plans and the current monopoly at Heathrow, which over-charges airlines and in turn raises fares for passengers, is not the right model for the future. Heathrow needs competition and innovation which puts passengers and airlines at the heart of the expansion project.
“We have brought together some of the world’s leading experts in infrastructure and aviation to develop the proposals that we have submitted to the government. In addition, our own advisory board brings in unparalleled experience including former British Airways CEO Sir Rod Eddington.
“We are now calling on the government to consider more carefully how competition can improve Heathrow’s offer to passengers, and how airlines at the heart of these plans will benefit passengers. We look forward to working with the new government to discuss these issues and how our proposals can help improve the airport’s expansion.”
More information on Arora’s submission can be found by clicking here.