London’s main airport, Heathrow, is to get a third runway but the government can expect big protests from local residents and environmental campaigners. Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport and third busiest by passenger numbers, but the infrastructure is very old in lots of places.
It currently has two runways and four terminals. Heathrow Terminal 5 is due to open in March 2008 and a sixth terminal will be built along with the new runway, which will probably open in 2017. The Green lobby will hammer the government about the extra pollution, but its interesting that Gordon Brown’s transport adviser, former British Airways CEO Rod Eddington, released a report last week proposing road pricing to force car drivers off the road but also backed a new runway and terminal at Heathrow. Looking after his old mates interests no doubt.
Also this week Gordon Brown in his position as Chancellor has doubled the air tax duty on anyone flying from Britain, making it not high enough to stop people flying but enough so that the government coins in another healthy wedge of tax.
Its interesting that Labour’s green policy is not to stop people flying or driving but just to make them pay that bit more for the privilege and provide no alternative.
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