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Rachel Reeves’s boast that Heathrow is having to “expand its VIP section” to accommodate all the high rollers arriving at its investment summit has caused some hilarity in the City.
Her comments, quoted in the Financial Times, were ridiculed in the comments section as the Chancellor seemed unaware that many tycoons land their private planes at smaller, more discreet airports and would not be seen dead with the hoi-polloi at Heathrow .
VIPs “don’t land at LHR, it’s Northolt,” said one reader. Others said Reeves should not boast about tycoons flying to the UK because of emissions.
‘Not socialist’: Rachel Reeves’ comments on private jets have caused some hilarity in the City
Still another mocked the Chancellor for being anti-socialist: ‘I bet Reeves is excited about all those high net worth individuals flying to Heathrow. She’s got her eyes on an expensive Gucci bag and a top-notch chalet in Verbier for a New Year’s week.’
Experts say business flights tend to avoid commercial airports. The UK’s most popular is Farnborough, Hampshire, which has accounted for almost 30 per cent of inbound business flights so far this year, according to aviation data provider WingX.
Biggin Hill in Kent and RAF Northolt in Middlesex are also top destinations, but not Heathrow.
Heathrow said it expected many VIPs and would ensure it had adequate resources to cope.
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