Interesting debate, but the siren cries of "build a new runway are made without clear thought or indeed susbstance".
Two points;
Still no news on how we expand the airspace .......?
It isn't just Heathrow which is at capacity it is the London TMA so unless there is a mechanism to increase throughput simply building another runway will make no difference anyway !
Slots are at a premium at all the major London Airports, each airport has its own vested interests so unless one airport gives slots away to the other nothing will change !
On a second point even if the traffic throughput issue is fixed a new runway would only make a marginal difference. Assuming it will take 10 years to build capacity will still be capped at a rate well below demand based on current growth rates !
Ideally LHR needs 2 possibly 3 more runways to keep pace with demand over the longer term.
I appreciate its absurd but but the ideal situation is actually to close LGW and STN , build the 2 extra runways at LHR (WHICH is after all where people really want to go), and then give those slots to LHR.
Last edited by Bagso; 21st Jun 2012 at 12:58.