07.09.12
Heathrow runway decision will not be taken until after 2015
Airlines have welcomed the establishment of a commission to examine airport capacity, which will report in 2015 – with a final decision on expansion not taken during this Parliament.
Ex-Financial Services Authority boss Sir Howard Davies is leading the commission, investigating options including a third runway at Heathrow and a Thames Estuary hub.
The prospect of a third runway at Heathrow – the scrapping of which was one of the first acts when the Coalition came to power – is highly controversial, especially in west London, but many senior Conservative MPs are now arguing it is necessary.
But Mayor of London Boris Johnson remains a high-profile opponent, and Nick Clegg has said the Liberal Democrats continue to oppose the idea.
Some have interpreted Justine Greening’s opposition to the third runway as a factor in her being reshuffled out of the transport secretary post. Opposing the runway was a key election pledge for her in her Putney constituency.
The new transport secretary, former chief whip Patrick McLoughlin, said the Davies commission will recommend “options for maintaining this country's status as an international hub for aviation”.
He said in a statement: “The Government believes that maintaining the UK's status as a leading global aviation hub is fundamental to our long-term international competitiveness.
“But the government is also mindful of the need to take full account of the social, environmental and other impacts of any expansion in airport capacity.”
An interim report will be published by the end of next year.
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