London Mayor Boris Johnson has dismissed the Airports Commission’s recommendation that a third runway be built at London Heathrow.

Johnson, who is also the MP for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency, which falls under the Heathrow flight path, said a new third runway “is not going to happen”.

He told the BBC: “I think it’s very interesting that Sir Howard has tried to build in all sorts of restrictions on his proposed new runway – you can’t land there at certain times of the night, there have to be respite periods and so on and so forth.

“Heathrow airport will immediately move to try to negate the value of these and I’m afraid all you’re doing is intensifying a planning error building a colossal hub airport in the middle of the westerns suburbs of [London]. There are much better solutions.”

The Airports Commission published its report this morning (see news, July 1). It specified that, if built, the third runway would have strict air and noise pollution regulations, including no night flights between 2330 and 0600.

Johnson was joined by fellow Conservative MP, and London mayor hopeful, Zac Goldsmith, who also said of a third runway: “It’s not going to happen.”

Goldsmith, who is MP for Richmond Park, said: “I don’t think anyone believes Heathrow expansion is possible or deliverable politically. There are conditions in this report on air quality and noise pollution that are irreconcilable with Heathrow expansion.”

Easyjet, which has its biggest base at Gatwick, threw its support behind London Heathrow’s plan for a third runway earlier this year (see news, January 30).

Carolyn McCall, the low-cost carrier’s CEO, today said: “Easyjet… agrees that expansion at Heathrow will provide the greatest passenger and economic benefits, including lower fares by opening up the airport to increased competition.

“Expansion at Heathrow will bring significant benefits to all parts of the UK and is in the best interests of all passengers – both business and leisure, long and short-haul.

“Expansion at Heathrow must be delivered sustainably. Local noise and environmental impacts need to be addressed.”

Christopher Choa, UK director at AECOM, the architect firm that assisted Heathrow with its case for expansion, said: “As the UK’s only international air hub, it’s the logical and practical place to expand.

“Every new destination with regularly scheduled flights at Heathrow supports 3,000 jobs. Growth of Heathrow’s international hub capacity is essential for the long-term resilience of London…

“The Commission’s finding that there is sufficient demand to justify a second additional runway by 2050 leaves the door open for expansion at Gatwick. Like Heathrow, Gatwick is an airport that is also constrained by lack of runway capacity.

“The best way forward for London, the region and the country is to allow both Heathrow and Gatwick to expand. These two airports are very specialised, with Heathrow the country’s only international hub, and Gatwick the region’s premier point-to-point airport.”

Trade union Unite today urged the government to “to move swiftly and take forward the Airports Commission’s recommendations”.

Unite’s London regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “The livelihoods of over 100,000 people working at Heathrow and those of tens of thousands in associated industries would be secured under this plan which cements Heathrow’s status as a world leader.

“This option, with the safeguards provided, delivers the biggest boost to the economy and will create over 70,000 jobs.

“Any further delay and uncertainty risks Heathrow losing out to rival airports across the globe, which is why the government now needs to show leadership and give the green light to Heathrow’s expansion.”

gov.uk

Graham Smith