Expanding Heathrow would be cheaper, quicker and better for the UK economy than creating a new hub airport, according to a new report from the London airport’s bosses.
Adding capacity at Britain’s main aviation hub would also be better for passengers and jobs, it says.
The report will form part of Heathrow’s submission to the Davies Commission, which is looking at the options for growing airport capacity.
Heathrow’s bosses have already said that, without a third runway, flights to and from feeder airports including Aberdeen will have to be sacrificed to make room for more services to international destinations.
Expansion at Heathrow could be delivered about seven years quicker than the time taken to build a new hub airport, their new report says, adding that creating a new airport would increase travel times for 90% of hub passengers, with the economic cost of longer journeys amounting to a possible £26billion.
Increasing capacity at Heathrow would also be better for taxpayers, with a new airport needing about £25billion of public money, according to the report.
More than 76,000 people directly employed at Heathrow would face relocation or redundancy if it was replaced by a new airport.
London Mayor Boris Johnson is one of the leading supporters of a new Thames Estuary airport and vehemently opposes the building of a third runway at Heathrow.
Labour backed the third runway plan in 2009 but the expansion was scrapped by the coalition government, which set up the commission – under former CBI chief Sir Howard Davies – to look into airport capacity.
It will publish its interim report by the year-end and its final report in summer 2015.
Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said yesterday: “Britain already has one of the world’s most successful international hub airports. Expanding Heathrow will put Britain ahead in the global race, connecting UK business to growth more quickly and at less cost to the taxpayer than any other option for new capacity.
“Heathrow is better located for passengers, business and jobs. Why build from scratch at a new hub when we can build on the strength that already exists around Heathrow today?”
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