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Date set for Heathrow and Gatwick runway recommendation

The recommendation for a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick, which has been in the works for several months, will be made on Wednesday.

The two major airports been campaigning to expand their runway presence, as Gatwick reported the busiest year ever, earlier this month.

The principal three options are a third Heathrow runway, extending an existing one or building a second runway at Gatwick.

The Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies, is expected to publish its final report on Wednesday. It has received more than 50,000 responses from individuals and organisations.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport chief executive, said: “Our record growth has shown why Gatwick remains the best choice.

“Gatwick is fast approaching capacity, with almost 40 million passengers travelling with us this year, which puts us a decade ahead of Department of Transport predictions.”

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Chief Executive, said: “Heathrow’s new expansion plan is the best value-for-money investment the Government can make to get the economy moving - in fact, it is almost entirely privately funded.

“The growth in passengers and exports to emerging markets shows how only Heathrow expansion will keep Britain at the heart of the global economy.

“The Airports Commission has confirmed it can be delivered responsibly - within carbon and air quality limits and with fewer people impacted by noise than today. Let’s get on with it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .