Government consultation on Thames Estuary airport plans
18.01.12
The Government will hold a formal consultation on plans for a giant new hub airport in the Thames Estuary, the BBC reports. The consultation on the airport, dubbed ‘Boris Island’ because of its backing from London Mayor Boris Johnson, is expected to be announced in March. A Downing Street spokesman said no decisions had been made but ministers wanted to explore all options for maintaining the UK's status as a global aviation hub.
The coalition ruled out any further expansion to Heathrow when they came to power. Ministers had previously shown little enthusiasm for the Boris Island plan, but in his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne did not rule out a new hub airport in the Thames Estuary, and this was seen as a sign that the Government was warming to the scheme, the BBC suggests.
Prime Minister David Cameron is said to be supportive of Mr Johnson's alternative to expanding Heathrow, but will await the outcome of the consultation. Sources close to Mr Johnson told the news service the idea had been gaining ground in conversations with ministers and a formal consultation was a major step forward.
Passenger demand for London's airports is forecast to increase from 140 million passengers a year in 2010 to 400 million passengers a year by 2050. Mr Johnson said the constrictions of Heathrow were becoming ‘ever more apparent and ever more damaging’.
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