London Banter - View Single Post - "Heathrow and Gatwick airports: Ministers mull rail link" (twixt the two)

Bruce[_2_] · October 11th 11, 11:41 AM posted to uk.railway,uk.transport.london

d wrote:
On Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:34:04 +0100
Bruce wrote:
wrote:
You have to wonder just how many more flights will satisfy the aircraft
lobby.

You have to wonder just how many more flights will be needed to
satisfy the future demand for air travel.

Who knows, thought its not written in stone that supply always has to
fulfil demand. Sometimes someone has to step in and say enough is enough
no matter what vested interests it ****es off.

My point was that the aircraft lobby has very little to do with how
many flights are operated. That is more likely to be dictated by
customer demand. The aircraft lobby, whoever they are, are probably
not in the business of operating empty flights, except of course when
take-off/landing slots need to be maintained.

The main driver of demand appears to be the low cost of air travel.
What would choke off demand very effectively is an increase in the
cost of tickets, via an increase in the cost of fuel, taxation or some
levy on carbon emissions, or any combination thereof.