Third Heathrow runway approved with green conditions; 2015-20 targeted

Ending six years of public debate, the UK government approved construction of a third runway and sixth terminal at London Heathrow but simultaneously imposed stricter environmental targets and rejected the introduction of mixed-mode operations (landings and takeoffs on the same runway) on the existing runways as an interim measure.

The government also indicated support for construction of a high-speed rail line between London and Scotland via a new international interchange station at LHR that would "unlock" the airport for the rest of the country.

"Heathrow is vital to our economy. But for too long it has operated at full capacity, losing ground to international hub airports in other countries and with relatively minor problems causing severe delays to passengers," Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon said.

"People who live around the airport clearly value runway alternation and that is why I have rejected more intensive use of the existing runways through mixed mode," he argued, noting he would "expect" airports operator BAA to bring forward a planning application for the third runway so that it could be built "as soon as possible" in the 2015-20 period.
Environmental measures linked to the release of additional capacity at LHR include a limit on initial use of the third runway so that the increase in flights does not exceed 125,000 per year, or about half the additional capacity the government proposed originally. It also intends to introduce so-called "green slots," allocating the new capacity to cleaner, quieter aircraft.

"This decision opens the door to Heathrow becoming a truly world class hub airport, and to the UK maintaining the direct connections to the rest of the world on which our prosperity depends," BAA CEO Colin Matthews said.

British Airways CEO Willie Walsh called the approval "the right decision" but said the carrier was "disappointed at the rejection of mixed mode, which would have reduced Heathrow's vulnerability to delays, but very much welcome the proposal of a high-speed rail hub at Heathrow."

Bmi, LHR's second-largest slot holder, said the decision "will ensure that Heathrow maintains its pre-eminent position as one of the world's leading international hub airports," while IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said the "environmental restrictions on the third runway are challenging" but that they "can be managed effectively."

by Cathy Buyck