eurostar builder
16th Dec 2003, 18:22
A discussion of topic today
Does Stantsed really need another runway..
Stansted tipped for air expansion
Busier times ahead at Stansted?
A new runway at Stansted Airport is expected to be announced as the government's preferred choice to cope with predicted air travel growth.
It is the highest profile of measures across the UK thought to be in a 30-year plan being unveiled by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling on Tuesday.
New airports are thought to have been ruled out, as has the big airlines' call for a third Heathrow runway.
Environmental groups oppose expansion and want an air "congestion charge".
Fierce opposition
Residents groups are also expected to be unhappy at the government's announcement, due to signal increases in capacity at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast International airports.
A vociferous local group, which lists celebrity chef Jamie Oliver among its numbers, is fiercely opposed to an extra runway at Stansted, in Essex.
If there is no development at Heathrow we will lose what we have now - Europe's number one hub which earns Britain billions of pounds a year
Jim McAuslan
Airline pilots' union Balpa
Split views ahead of decision
Representing the Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign, Brian Ross told BBC News the plans were "illogical and undeliverable".
"The major airlines do not want it and the budget airlines are not prepared to pay for it," Mr Ross said.
"The idea of a second Stansted runway has been considered twice at public inquiry and once at Royal Commission.
"It has always been rejected because of the severity of the environmental impact."
Balancing act
Mr Darling said his announcement showed the government was planning for the future and not ducking difficult decisions.
"We have got to balance the fact that people will want and will need to travel more, especially as the economy continues to grow, with the environmental impact," he told BBC Breakfast.
It is thought Mr Darling will reject an increase in Air Passenger Duty, the departure tax that passengers pay when leaving UK airports, in favour of a "greener" approach by the aviation industry.
He said decisions on such duties were left to the chancellor's Budgets but most air charges in any case had to agreed internationally.
But he would be unveiling proposals for measures on problems like aircraft noise, as well as the runway plans.
British Airways and other airlines back the construction of a third, short runway at Heathrow.
Industry warning
Although that is unlikely to be completely ruled out, for the moment it is thought the transport secretary may try to compromise by allowing more flights from Heathrow's existing runways.
BA's Chief Executive Rod Eddington has warned that aviation could face the sort of decline the shipbuilding and coal mining industries suffered if no extra Heathrow runway is contemplated.
The airline has threatened court action should Heathrow expansion be ruled out.
It would be just grotesque if this government... gave its blessing to the bulldozing of priceless assets just to provide subsidised penny flights to Prague
Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign
Push for sky 'congestion charge'
John Stewart of HACAN Clearskies, a group fighting any major growth at Heathrow, told BBC News it was concerned about air pollution, the "constant drone of aeroplanes overhead" and "aviation's growing contribution to global warming".
Mr Stewart also called on the government to "manage the demand for air travel".
"If aviation fuel was taxed at the same rate as petrol for cars, there would be an increase in demand over the next 30 years but it would not be great enough to justify building any more runways in the UK," he told BBC News.
On Monday night at a carol service in the village of Harmondsworth, which would be obliterated by a third runway at Heathrow, the Reverend Phil Hughes led prayers and said he hoped the community would be saved.
Opposition is equally strong to expansion at Gatwick in West Sussex, where new runway plans are complicated by an agreement reached in the late 1970s.
The deal between the former British Airports Authority (now BAA) and the local council prohibits expansion at Gatwick before 2019.
Regional plans
Some commentators believe Birmingham Airport could benefit from a new runway under the government's plans, which would rule out a suggested new two-runway airport between Coventry and Rugby.
Expanding Birmingham would also mean no new runway for East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire.
Plans for a new £9bn airport in the Thames Estuary at Cliffe in north Kent are likely to be abandoned.
Ministers also seem certain to oppose a scheme for a new airport dubbed Severnside in the Severn Estuary, near Newport in South Wales.
Does Stantsed really need another runway..
Stansted tipped for air expansion
Busier times ahead at Stansted?
A new runway at Stansted Airport is expected to be announced as the government's preferred choice to cope with predicted air travel growth.
It is the highest profile of measures across the UK thought to be in a 30-year plan being unveiled by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling on Tuesday.
New airports are thought to have been ruled out, as has the big airlines' call for a third Heathrow runway.
Environmental groups oppose expansion and want an air "congestion charge".
Fierce opposition
Residents groups are also expected to be unhappy at the government's announcement, due to signal increases in capacity at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast International airports.
A vociferous local group, which lists celebrity chef Jamie Oliver among its numbers, is fiercely opposed to an extra runway at Stansted, in Essex.
If there is no development at Heathrow we will lose what we have now - Europe's number one hub which earns Britain billions of pounds a year
Jim McAuslan
Airline pilots' union Balpa
Split views ahead of decision
Representing the Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign, Brian Ross told BBC News the plans were "illogical and undeliverable".
"The major airlines do not want it and the budget airlines are not prepared to pay for it," Mr Ross said.
"The idea of a second Stansted runway has been considered twice at public inquiry and once at Royal Commission.
"It has always been rejected because of the severity of the environmental impact."
Balancing act
Mr Darling said his announcement showed the government was planning for the future and not ducking difficult decisions.
"We have got to balance the fact that people will want and will need to travel more, especially as the economy continues to grow, with the environmental impact," he told BBC Breakfast.
It is thought Mr Darling will reject an increase in Air Passenger Duty, the departure tax that passengers pay when leaving UK airports, in favour of a "greener" approach by the aviation industry.
He said decisions on such duties were left to the chancellor's Budgets but most air charges in any case had to agreed internationally.
But he would be unveiling proposals for measures on problems like aircraft noise, as well as the runway plans.
British Airways and other airlines back the construction of a third, short runway at Heathrow.
Industry warning
Although that is unlikely to be completely ruled out, for the moment it is thought the transport secretary may try to compromise by allowing more flights from Heathrow's existing runways.
BA's Chief Executive Rod Eddington has warned that aviation could face the sort of decline the shipbuilding and coal mining industries suffered if no extra Heathrow runway is contemplated.
The airline has threatened court action should Heathrow expansion be ruled out.
It would be just grotesque if this government... gave its blessing to the bulldozing of priceless assets just to provide subsidised penny flights to Prague
Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign
Push for sky 'congestion charge'
John Stewart of HACAN Clearskies, a group fighting any major growth at Heathrow, told BBC News it was concerned about air pollution, the "constant drone of aeroplanes overhead" and "aviation's growing contribution to global warming".
Mr Stewart also called on the government to "manage the demand for air travel".
"If aviation fuel was taxed at the same rate as petrol for cars, there would be an increase in demand over the next 30 years but it would not be great enough to justify building any more runways in the UK," he told BBC News.
On Monday night at a carol service in the village of Harmondsworth, which would be obliterated by a third runway at Heathrow, the Reverend Phil Hughes led prayers and said he hoped the community would be saved.
Opposition is equally strong to expansion at Gatwick in West Sussex, where new runway plans are complicated by an agreement reached in the late 1970s.
The deal between the former British Airports Authority (now BAA) and the local council prohibits expansion at Gatwick before 2019.
Regional plans
Some commentators believe Birmingham Airport could benefit from a new runway under the government's plans, which would rule out a suggested new two-runway airport between Coventry and Rugby.
Expanding Birmingham would also mean no new runway for East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire.
Plans for a new £9bn airport in the Thames Estuary at Cliffe in north Kent are likely to be abandoned.
Ministers also seem certain to oppose a scheme for a new airport dubbed Severnside in the Severn Estuary, near Newport in South Wales.