The real solution to "Heathrow hassle"

A few days ago, FT commentator Philip Stephens lambasted BAA for Heathrow's infamously interminable delays, long queues and chaotic terminals. He received so many responses that today he said:

"I had thought I might touch a nerve in writing about the horrors of Heathrow but judging from the avalanche of e-mails I have received, I underestimated how widely shared is my rage at BAA's truly awful customer service."

Today - a month after City leaders raised the issue of Heathrow hassle at a Downing Street summit - Sir Terence Conran has joined the fray. The designer of the interior of Heathrow's Terminal 1 said that BAA has turned Heathrow into "a really horrible place".

Commentators have generally blamed the chaotic state of affairs on BAA's money-grabbing business practices - especially their obsession with profiting from shopping facilities at the expense of their customers' comfort and needs.

In a letter to the FT, our senior transport campaigner, Emily suggested a common sense approach to solving the problem: simply cut some unnecessary (and environmentally destructive) flights from the airport.

Guess what the most flown-to destination from Heathrow is. New York? Los Angeles? Dubai? Sydney?

Paris. There are over 30 flights every day to Paris, a destination you can reach in a comfortable two and a half hours from central London by train, for less than 30 quid.

Other top destinations include Edinburgh - and Manchester, which is easily reachable from central London in just over two hours by train, for prices as low as £12.50 and causing 10 times less damage to climate than flying.

Crazy idea, or common sense? Find out more about our aviation campaign.