Heathrow has started the tendering process for a £17.6 billion third runway even though the Government hasn’t yet decided whether to allow the airport to expand.
In anticipation that the Government will back the Airport Commission’s recommendation for an additional runway, the airport has asked for expressions of interest from construction companies by this Friday.
After drawing up a shortlist of potential suppliers, it will send out formal invitations to tender next month.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to decide by the end of this year where to build an additional runway in the south east of England after a cabinet committee has assessed the findings of Howard Davies’ Airports Commission.
Davies announced in July that Heathrow was the Commission’s preferred location, but he pointed out that Gatwick was also a possibility.
