Coaches to replace helicopter
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THE HELICOPTER link between Heathrow and Gatwick is to be replaced by a fast coach service once the M25 is fully opened, Junior Transport Minister David Mitchell has announced.
Both British Airways and British Caledonian had applied to the Civil Aviation Authority to operate the helicopter service for a further ten years, he told MPs.
The Authority agreed, but. Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley, considering that decision, decided that although there were benefits to air travellers and to the operators of maintaining the service that there had to be other considerations. "In the light of the environmental disturbance caused by the service we could not justify allowing it to continue in operation once a suitable alternative coach service becomes feasible with the opening of the relevant sections of the M25."
Mr Mitchell told MPs that the Department originally anticipated ending the helicopter link one or two months after the completion of the M25 between the two airports. Mr Ridley has accepted the recommendation of the Civil Aviation Authority that there should be a four months transition.