Heathrow Airport Runway Decision Postponed Again

Decision on London airport expansion has been deferred until 2016, citing the need for further environmental research.

A decision on adding a third proposed runway to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) will be met with another delay, after planning officials determined additional time would be needed to study environmental impact. BBC News reports the postponement was confirmed by the British Ministry of Transport, despite previously promising a decision by the end of the year.

“The case for aviation expansion is clear – but it’s vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come,” Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told BBC News. “We will undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon.”

With the announcement, the Airport Commission has postponed their decision for a third time. This move comes despite Sir Howard Davies’ previous independent recommendation to add a third runway to LHR.

Those on all sides of the debate were quick to react to the news. Executives for LHR said they planned to move forward with plans to add a runway to their airport, telling BBC News they were confident their proposal could meet “tough environmental conditions.”

However, those campaigning for other plans heralded the decision. In a statement, Heathrow Hub praised the British government’s move to study the environmental issue, sharing a similar position with executives at neighboring London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

“We are glad that the government recognizes that more work on environmental impact needs to be done,” Stewart Wingate, chief executive officer of LGW, told BBC News. “Air quality, for example, is a public health priority and obviously the legal safeguards around it cannot be wished away.”

As a result, government officials will continue to debate the three plans to alleviate London’s overall air traffic congestion problem. The other plans involve extending a runway at LHR as part of the Heathrow Hub proposal or adding an additional runway at LGW.

The postponement is not without precedent. Earlier this year, politicians called on the Airport Committee to study all facets of the proposed expansion, saying the decision was of critical importance to London’s future.

[Photo: Heathrow Hub]