Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Airports Commission reveals expansion shortlist

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 three-shortlisted options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.

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 summer 2015.

This is all very well and good having report after report after report that concludes these options or those options, but wouldn’t it be more productive to have a swifter conclusion and actually have an agreement on when and where airport capacity is going to be expanded.

The man in charge of investigating these options, Sir Howard Davies, said himself that capacity challenges will become critical if action isn’t taken soon, so I think it’s about time the government bit the bullet and made a decision, because after all that’s what they’re there to do.


Even if the choice they make doesn’t sit well with people it’s better than procrastinating and commissioning another load of reports and watching the critical point draw ever nearer. 

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