Oil price to halt airport expansions?
Soaring oil prices will have a significant impact on air passenger numbers, deeming airport expansions unnecessary, new research suggests.
A report released this week by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates 350 million passengers will take to the skies in 2030 - nearly 150 million less than the government forecast and well within the current capacity of 425 million per year.
It cites the fact the current official forecast assumes oil prices are currently $60 (£30) a barrel and will fall to $53 in the next four years when in fact they are currently $136 a barrel and are tipped to reach as high as $200 in the near future.
The conservationist called the government''s current passenger projections "pie in the sky" and claims it has not even taken green business tools like videoconferencing - which is reducing the need for corporate air travel - into account.
Peter Lockley, head of transport policy at WWF, said "Expanding the UK''s airports means locking the UK into a carbon-intensive future that is incompatible with the Government''s climate change targets."
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Visit the WWF website to hear about the charity''s One Planet Future Campaign.
