New runways tipped for Heathrow and Gatwick

The Airport Commission has revealed an expansion shortlist with new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick included in the options.

13:40 17 December 2013

The Airport Commission has revealed expansion plans, which include new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick being proposed.

Colin Matthews, Heathrow chief executive, told the BBC: "The case for Heathrow is strong. It's important that businesses can get around the globe to where economies are growing.

"We've got Paris and Amsterdam, Frankfurt desperately trying to eat our lunch, they want to have the business that the UK benefits from today."

 

The commission also considers building a new airport in the Isle of Grain in North Kent. The final report is expected to come out by summer 2015.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, supports the plans to build airport in North Kent. In the report, the Commission, which is headed by Sir Howard Davies, said that Isle of Grain Airport would cost up to £112bn.

The mayor said: "A new airport in the inner estuary is the only credible hub option left. By keeping it on the table, Davies is saying you have a choice - between a damaging U-turn or a radical new vision for expansion.

Meanwhile, the report added that it will check whether the option offered “a credible proposal.” 

"The overall balance of economic impacts would be uncertain - particularly as an Estuary airport would require the closure of Heathrow for commercial reasons and London City for airspace reasons.”