Growth Restriction by Capacity ?
One of the options to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation in a new DfT report, is to delay building any new runways beyond 2050. This is based on a 25% downward revision of expected growth in passenger numbers between now and 2030 based on several factors including the recent decision not to build new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. The report suggests that the revised growth figures are achievable using existing runway capacity.
Source : Airliner World - December 2011.