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Investment in low carbon high-speed rail networks is increasing, how will this impact on air travel?

Name Stephanie Mullenger FRICS
Position Business development director for the property and development arm of Manchester Airports Group, MAG Developments

Does air travel have a place in a low carbon transport future?
We have more to do but we will play a role because the aviation industry directly supports 234,000 UK jobs and contributes £18.4bn to the UK’s economy. With demand for air travel on the increase too, the objective is to reduce emissions without limiting people’s ability to fly.

It’s a challenge, but with the UK Government’s support we’re confident that reductions can be achieved with new technologies such as biofuels. We can also draw confidence knowing there’s been a 70% improvement in fuel efficiency in the last 40 years.

Why are mixed-use schemes an important approach for airport development?
With increased taxes placed on flying and spiralling fuel prices, both airlines and airports have to work harder to generate revenue and absorb additional costs so that they are not passed onto the passengers – this is why there has been significant investment in areas such as car parking and retail.

Long-term at Manchester, we are working on the development of ‘Airport City’, a new mixed- use scheme of scale never seen at a UK airport before.

What can be learned from the extreme cost cutting measures of low-cost carriers?
The success of the low-cost airline model speaks for itself and the fact that they are now amongst the most popular and profitable in Europe shows that consumers like the flexibility element of a basic, stripped-down product, with optional ‘extras’ at an additional cost.

The lower operating cost structures and generation of ancillary revenue from such extras presents a leaner, meaner commercial proposition and working practices.

How will HS2 impact on Manchester Airport?
On the face of it, air travel and high-speed rail (HSR) probably don’t make natural bedfellows; however, we see HSR as a fundamental element of future transport infrastructure.

Our catchment area currently stretches across the country from East to West, North to Scotland and South to Birmingham, so we envisage that HSR will give people better access to our long-haul flights and help to ease the capacity constraints at the London airports as well as on the rail network.