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Airports Commission report to reveal expansion shortlist Airports Commission reveals expansion shortlist
(about 7 hours later)
The Airports Commission is due to publish its interim report setting out its preferred options for expanding UK aviation capacity. New runways at Heathrow and Gatwick are among the options that have been short-listed by the Airports Commission for expanding UK airport capacity.
The commission, led by businessman Sir Howard Davies, is expected to include expanding Heathrow Airport on its shortlist. The three short-listed options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.
But building a new runway at Heathrow is likely to face strong political and environmental opposition. The commission, led by businessman Sir Howard Davies, will also consider a new airport in the Isle of Grain in north Kent.
A final report is due by the summer of 2015, after the next general election. A final report is due by summer 2015.
The issue of how to increase airport capacity has been a political and business flashpoint for years, and Sir Howard was asked in 2012 to investigate the options and try to come up with a plan. The commission has not shortlisted proposals for expanding Stansted or Birmingham, but said there was likely to be a case for considering them as "potential options" for any second new runway by 2050.
The report may also identify expansion of Gatwick Airport and a new airport in the Thames estuary - favoured by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson - as other options. Sir Howard was asked in 2012 to investigate the options for expanding the UK's aviation capacity and try to come up with a plan.
There have been unconfirmed reports that expansion of Stansted Airport is not one of the preferred options. He said the Commission's analysis showed one net additional runway was needed by 2030.
Mr Johnson has said that putting a new runway at Heathrow would be a "catastrophe". "The capacity challenge is not yet critical, but it will become so if no action is taken soon," he added.
But supporters of Heathrow's expansion say it would be quicker and cheaper than other options, and would help to maintain the UK as an international aviation hub. The Commission has short-listed the following proposals to investigate ahead of its final report:
In other developments:
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has said that putting a new runway at Heathrow would be a "catastrophe".
Following the commission's report, Mr Johnson said he continued to support the creation of the Isle of Grain airport in north Kent.
"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," he said.
The commission said it would undertake further study of the Isle of Grain option in the first half of next year, before deciding whether it offers "a credible proposal for consideration alongside the other short-listed options".
But supporters of Heathrow's expansion say it will be quicker and cheaper than other options and will help to maintain the UK as an international aviation hub.
Heathrow's owners submitted evidence to the commission arguing that a new runway could be in place by 2029, allowing 260,000 more flights.Heathrow's owners submitted evidence to the commission arguing that a new runway could be in place by 2029, allowing 260,000 more flights.
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."
Heathrow is one of the world's busiest hub airports, handling 70 million passengers in 2012. A third of those travellers were transit passengers transferring to other flights.Heathrow is one of the world's busiest hub airports, handling 70 million passengers in 2012. A third of those travellers were transit passengers transferring to other flights.
But the airport operates at 98% of its capacity.But the airport operates at 98% of its capacity.
When the coalition government came to power in 2010 it scrapped the former Labour government's plan for a third runway at Heathrow. When the coalition government came to power in 2010, it scrapped the former Labour government's plan for a third runway at Heathrow.
The government said on Monday that it had not ruled out any options when it came to airport expansion in the south east of England. The government said on Monday that it had not ruled out any options when it came to airport expansion in the south-east of England.
On Sunday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the government would stick to its pledge not to build a new runway at Heathrow before 2015.On Sunday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the government would stick to its pledge not to build a new runway at Heathrow before 2015.
He told the BBC: "We will not be building a third runway in this Parliament. We will stick by our manifesto commitment."He told the BBC: "We will not be building a third runway in this Parliament. We will stick by our manifesto commitment."
Mr Johnson and Transport for London looked at 16 options for a new hub airport in the South East and narrowed these down to three favoured possible locations.
The most famous of these is an artificial island in the Thames Estuary - dubbed "Boris Island".
The others are a major expansion at Stansted, or an airport at the Isle of Grain in north Kent.
One of the most controversial options for Heathrow could be the establishment of so-called "mixed mode" runways.
This would mean the runways could be used simultaneously for take-offs and landings in certain circumstances, raising capacity at the expense of significantly increased noise.
The Institute of Directors (IoD), which lobbies on behalf of businesses, said on Monday that the UK's airports have "suffered from chronic indecision under governments of all colours over the last 50 years".
Graeme Leach, chief economist at the IoD said: "Direct flights to the world's growing economies are absolutely vital to boost trade, draw inward investment and attract tourists.
"If we do not build the runways we need to provide these flights we will fall behind in the global race. By failing to expand our only hub we have allowed its European rivals to overtake, offering more flights to fast growing markets in Asia and South America."