"that also implies that there is a deal to be done"
what you mena is thatthe taxpayer will pay more - anyway it wil change the whole economic basis of the report= even more legal challenges..................
when the neighbours don't want it and your biggest customer doesn't want it do you REALLY think this will happen???
Having missed a vital comment, "
If there isn't scope for some accomodation, then BA has to suck it up, it has nowhere else to go", it may be an idea to re-read the
whole post, a couple of times if necessary.
There's is also no mention of taxpayers in it.
BTW, who says the neighbours don't want it? The vocal anti-LHR NIMBY minority live miles away and can in no way be described as "neighbours".
BA don't want a third rwy? Everyone must missed that point in its evidence to the Commission, a bombshell like that would surely have made headlines. In reality the CAA will decide, LHR is a regulated airport.
If it a third rwy doesn't happen (and it probably won't) it will not be for the reasons you mention, it will be as a result of the usual suspects:
delay,
indecision,and
dither.