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More passengers ‘shun public transport and use cars or cabs to get to airports’

Airline passengers are more likely to travel by car or cab to catch flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton than they were seven years ago, in a trend described as “concerning” by a new report.

Despite major investment in rail and coach links to the three airports, the proportion of passengers using public transport actually fell slightly between 2012 and 2016, the survey found.

The major exception to the trend was Stansted, with accessibility improved by new coach connections directly to Underground stations such as Stratford, Paddington and Golders Green. The report, from the London TravelWatch group, said the drop in passengers using public transport “is a concerning trend if the objectives of the airports and the Mayor of London are to be met.”

The proportion using public transport fell from 41 per cent to 39.1 per cent at Heathrow, 44 per cent to 43.6 per cent at Gatwick and 33 per cent to 31.4 per cent at Luton, with public transport failings and cab apps like Uber cited as reasons. It rose at Stansted from 51 per cent to 54.7 per cent and at London City from 50 to 50.9 per cent.

London TravelWatch wants improved interchanges, Oyster/contactless extended on national rail services and more use of contactless bank cards on local buses outside Greater London.