Growth of London’s Heathrow Airport to Bring £10 Billion a Year to the UK

Future Heathrow, representing employers, staff and aviation organizations, hailed the UK Government’s confirmation that proposals for a short, third runway and fuller use of the two existing runways would meet stringent requirements for reducing noise and improving local air quality.

The group urged that firm decisions should be taken quickly to implement the first increases in runway capacity at the UK’s national hub since 1946. Expansion would benefit wealth and job creation across the country by nearly £10 billion a year.

The airport’s growth would remove the threat to London’s status as a global business capital and establish world-class air links for the UK regions to boost inward investment.

“Heathrow is full and its dependence on two runways, while European competitors have four or five, causes delays, stacks and crawling taxiway queues. The cost of this congestion can be measured economically and environmentally,” said Stephen Nelson, chief executive of BAA.