The Government proposes a public consultation next year on construction of a third runway at Heathrow after reaffirming its commitment to an expanding aviation industry.
The runway would be expected to open by 2017 and increase capacity at Heathrow by 50%.
Ministers will also consult on construction of a sixth terminal at the airport, with the fifth due to open in 2008, and the impact of a more intensive use of Heathrow’s existing runways that would allow a 15% increase in take-offs and landings in advance of a new runway.
In a progress report on the 2003 Aviation White Paper, transport secretary Douglas Alexander also repeated the Government’s commitment to building a second runway at Stansted by 2012.
The plans fit a projected doubling of air passengers to 465 million a year by 2030, even with the cost of climate change and the resulting higher fares factored into forecasts.
But they fly in the face the Government’s supposed intention to reduce demand for air travel because of environmental concerns, expressed in the doubling of air passenger duty announced last week.
The report by the Department for Transport described demand at Heathrow as “now far in excess of capacity” and concluded it is “in an increasingly uncompetitive position in relation to other major European airports”.