Additional runway capacity will be needed in the southeast of England to cope with an expansion in air travel, Sir Howard Davies announced for the first time this week.
The chairman of the Airports Commission, which has been charged with exploring whether more runways are needed and, if so, where they should be built, said this week he is drawing up a shortlist of a "handful" of options.
His interim report will be published in December, but final recommendations won’t be made until after the 2015 general election.
Sir Howard rejected arguments made by those opposed to new runways in the southeast and said during a speech in London yesterday that additional runways capacity could be compatible with the UK’s commitments to combat climate change.
