Green signal for third runway at Heathrow

In a major political decision that would affect Britain's future, the Theresa May government has decided to build a new runway at London's Heathrow airport. The cabinet accepted the proposal of the Airport Commission on October 25. It recommended a third runway at Heathrow rather than making a second runway at London's Gatwick Airport.

The new runway would pave the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at London’s main international airport, making it the world's top travel hub. The big construction plan has come after Britain's decision to leave the European Union and will boost the country’s economy.

Since the first cabinet approval for Heathrow expansion on January 10, 1946, more than a dozen reports had recommended a third runway. Though the government was in favour of it, stiff resistance from local people, environmentalists, budget issues and legal hassles came in the way.

Heathrow Airport and Britain's second major airport, Gatwick, were in the race for an additional runway. Both London airports are running at full capacity. Gatwick said it could build a runway much cheaper at $9 billion, causing only marginal harm to rural people. However, the move for a second runway at Gatwick—it mostly connects to Europe—lost momentum after Brexit.

An independent inquiry commission led by Sir Howard Davies presented three options: a new airstrip to the northwest of Heathrow; extension of existing runway at Heathrow; or a second runway at Gatwick. The choice was the most expensive option—a $22 billion third runway at Heathrow. Extension of the present Heathrow runways would cost only $17 billion.

An aircraft comes in to land at Heathrow airport in west London, Britain October 25, 2016. Photo: Reuters

Why Heathrow

Heathrow was chosen for its long-term benefits.

One of the busiest airports in the world, Heathrow flies more than 75 million passengers a year. That accounts for nearly a third of the whole British air travellers. Business preferred a third runway at Heathrow over a second at Gatwick.

Britain is poised to start new services to fast-growing countries such as India and China. Heathrow expansion became the priority after competitors like Charles de Gaulle in Paris and Schiphol in Amsterdam began wooing airlines, suggesting congestion at the London hub.

International airlines too preferred Heathrow expansion. Heathrow was the world's top international hub till Dubai surpassed it two yeas ago. Being the world's most expensive airport, it attracts more inward tourists and airfreight to the UK.

Protesters from Reclaim the Power and Plane Stupid against airport expansion take part in a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on October 25, 2016. Photo: AFP

The choice post Brexit was overwhelmingly Heathrow.

However, there is intense opposition from locals, environmentalists like Greenpeace and MPs of nearby constituencies or under the air lane. The village of Harmondsworth will be razed for the runway. People hating plane noise, traffic and air pollution are standing firm behind several local bodies in mounting a judicial attack. A few political representatives may quit posts leading to byelections.

The worst hit locals will receive a compensation at 125 per cent of the market value. A six-and-a-half-hour ban on night flight schedules will be imposed to address the concerns of local people and environmentalists. The government may also introduce new legally binding noise restrictions.

Planning and legal challenges may delay the project. London's international airports at Gatwick or Stansted may challenge the decision in favour of Heathrow. So the spadework is unlikely to begin before 2020 and the runway may not be ready before 2025.