HEATHROW’s chief executive has confirmed that, alongside 10 years of construction over the M25’s busiest junction, government support would be required for expansion of the airport.
Speaking at the Airports UK conference this week, CEO Thomas Woldbye said that Whitehall support would be required for Heathrow to press ahead with plans for a third runway.
Nonetheless, he hoped to obtain that support by the end of next year.
It is not clear what ‘support’ is required and if it would be given in advance of the lengthy planning process a third runway would entail.
Mr Woldbye also acknowledged that the third runway would make achieving the UK’s climate targets harder.
The project has officially been paused since the pandemic.
Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said: “The concept of a third runway has always been a misnomer.
“The plans entail increasing Heathrow’s estate by a size that is larger than Birmingham Airport, with more terminals, hangars, shopping malls and the world’s two largest car parks, in order to increase flight numbers by more than Gatwick currently flies.”
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