LONDON (AFP) — London Heathrow Airport should operate fewer flights to reduce the "Heathrow hassle" factor threatening the city's prosperity, a top London business organisation said Wednesday.
Alternatively the size of Heathrow -- the world's busiest international passenger airport -- should be increased, but the flight levels kept unchanged, said London First, which represents the capital's leading employers.
The lobby group, which wants to make London the best city in the world in which to do business, is worried that customers and clients may go elsewhere if they find using Heathrow a bother.
Heathrow is struggling to regain its reputation after the new 4.3-billion-pound Terminal 5 descended into chaos with chronic baggage problems.
London First said in a report that "warped incentives" caused "Heathrow hassle", with passengers suffering flight delays, long waits, poor service and deteriorating buildings.
The financial incentives for the Civil Aviation Authority regulator and the airport's operator BAA were geared to "cramming in extra flights and passengers", the group said.
The report suggested making one organisation responsible for cutting passenger queues; improving sub-standard buildings, and reduce flight delays by either increasing Heathrow's capacity or cutting the number of flights.
"Heathrow has been turned from a silk purse to a sow's ear," said London First chief executive Baroness Jo Valentine.
"For years, government, policy-makers and the regulator have failed to prioritise the interests of airport passengers ... Quite simply, if business can't fly easily, reliably and comfortably from London, it will go elsewhere."
In April, British Airways chief Willie Walsh said the state of Heathrow was damaging the country's reputation and economy.
And Don Langford, head of customer services Europe for American Airlines, branded it a "bit of a dump" and the "worst" among major European air hubs.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government is considering plans to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow, saying expansion is necessary to safeguard its status as a major world airport.
The British Chambers of Commerce, which represents British business interests around the world, says expansion is essential to keep the country economically competitive.
However, there is a large protest movement against the plans and London Mayor Boris Johnson opposes the idea.
"While proposals for Runway Three will undeniably address capacity issues in the long term, we need a better Heathrow now," Valentine said.
"An overhaul of airport regulation is needed to secure tangible and rapid improvement if the reputation of Heathrow and of London is to be restored."
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