Airports Expansion Decision Delayed Again

There will be no decision on whether Heathrow or Gatwick get to expand until after the election of a new Tory leader, the Government has said.

An announcement on which project was to get the nod was due to be made by David Cameron within weeks.

But his resignation as Prime Minister last Friday has prompted a new delay - a move likely to infuriate the airports and business groups which have previously expressed frustration over the lack of a decision.

The Airports Commission recommended the building of a third runway at Heathrow almost a year ago but the Government decided to carry out more work on noise, pollution and compensation before making its position clear.

Gatwick is Heathrow's biggest challenger for a new runway while the other main option, not favoured by Heathrow itself, is the so-called Heathrow Hub proposal to extend the North runway at the west London airport.

That is supported by major Heathrow customers with BA-owner, IAG, its main champion, fearing the estimated £23bn cost of an extra runway at Heathrow would prove too rich for airlines in terms of increased fees.

Commenting on the delay, Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: "We have a tiny fraction of the environmental impact of Heathrow yet you get all of the same economic benefits, all of the same connections to short haul destinations, all of the same connections to long haul destinations and at a cheaper price.

"When we look at whoever the next leader is, our intention will be simply to continue to press the merits of our case because we simply think we've got the strongest case and we certainly believe we've got the only deliverable case."

Heathrow, which recently said it would abandon night flights to help its case, said: "If Britain wants to be confident, outward-looking and at the centre of the world's economy then expanding Heathrow must be a key building block in the Government's Brexit plan."

It added: "Government can send the strongest possible signal that Britain is open for business and confident in its future by expanding Heathrow".

Chief executive of the London First business group, Baroness Jo Valentine, said: "Clearly this is disappointing.

"Nothing can be more vital for a trading island than sufficient air links, especially after the referendum result.

"There should be no question that whoever takes over from David Cameron must keep the Government's commitment to open a new runway by 2030".

Gavin Hayes, director of campaign group Let Britain Fly, said: "One of the first tests of leadership for the next prime minister, and the clearest way of demonstrating we have strong government again, is to make this long overdue decision.

"There is too much economic turmoil right now to delay this any longer".