London Heathrow gets a third runway

[sn26567]

Stop Heathrow runway dithering or I'll take British Airways elsewhere, warns Willie Walsh
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA's parent company IAG, says the firm could focus on growing its business from Spain or Ireland rather than London

The boss of British Airways has warned he could seek to expand the airline overseas if the Government "twiddles its thumbs" over a third runway at Heathrow.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA's parent company IAG, which also owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, said the firm could focus on growing its business from Spain or Ireland rather than London.

His comments come after the Government announced a final decision on whether to build a new runway at Heathrow Airport has been put off until at least next summer.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Walsh said: "If the Government continues to dither over a new runway, then I'll move my business elsewhere. We now have airlines in Dublin and Madrid, and can expand our business there, supporting the strengthening Irish and Spanish economies."

The Davies Commission concluded in July that a third runway at Heathrow was the best option - if a string of measures were put in place to deal with noise and pollution - but left open the option of expanding capacity at Gatwick instead.

The Government is assessing three options for airport expansion, which also include a £13.5 billion extension to the existing northern runway at Heathrow to form the equivalent of two runways and a new runway at Gatwick Airport, costing £9.3 billion.

Full article in The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviatio ... Walsh.html

[teach]

Misleading title, both here and in the actual article. He at no point says he will move BA anywhere. All he says is that if the government doesn't take a decision soon on a third runway at LHR, IAG's growth will come especially from Aer Lingus and Iberia, and not from BA. Nthing is said about moving BA. You can't just move a massive carrier and hub like BA anyway.

[Passenger]

The British Government will announce its decision today (= new runway for Heathrow or for Gatwick).

[sean1982]

The British Government will announce its decision today (= new runway for Heathrow or for Gatwick).

Approval for a third runway at Heathrow has been given!

[quixoticguide]

That's great news!

[Acid-drop]

any map available ?

[DIBO]

Don't really understand that it isn't Gatwick getting a second runway, that land is available on the south side, the airspace and surrounding area (population) is much less crowed, making it the extra runway with the least negative impact. But OK, politicians have decided...

[Established02]

any map available ?

At the bottom of the article.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-377601 ... e=facebook

[Boeing767copilot]

LHR third runway.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 3104 times

[luchtzak]

The village of Harmondsworth will be cut in half.

Harmondsworth and Sipson village will be just next to the new runway ...

[sn26567]

The mayor of London disagrees and will challenge the decision:

An expanded Gatwick would have boosted our economy without the huge air and noise pollution problems Heathrow will create.

There is cross-party opposition to Heathrow expansion, and cross-party support for Gatwick expansion.

A new runway at Heathrow will be devastating for air quality across London. Air pollution around Heathrow already exceeds legal levels.

Govt must set out a meaningful plan to ensure Londoners do not suffer from the additional air & noise pollution from Heathrow expansion.

I will continue to challenge this decision and I am exploring how I can best be involved in any legal process over the coming months.

[sn26567]

The village of Harmondsworth will be cut in half.

Harmondsworth and Sipson village will be just next to the new runway ...