The commission backed a third runway at Heathrow, claiming it will contribute £147bn in economic growth and 70,000 jobs by 2050. Making the investment would connect the UK to more than 40 new destinations worldwide potentially fuelling lucrative growth in exports, including food and drink products.
A third runway at Heathrow would enable "the type of flight that is very important to the UK economy" leader of the report Sir Howard Davies told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
‘The government must commit’
The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI’s) director general John Cridland said: “Now that Sir Howard’s Commission has made its recommendation, the government must commit to the decision now, and get diggers in the ground at Heathrow swiftly by 2020.”
“Growing airport capacity in the South East is absolutely critical to the whole of the UK’s economic future - it simply isn’t an optional “nice to do”. Each day of delay in making the key airport investment results in the UK losing out, as competitors strengthen their trade links at our expense.
“Creating new routes to emerging markets will open doors to trade, boosting growth, creating jobs and driving investment right across the country,” said Cridland. “Our research shows that eight new daily routes alone could boost exports by up to £1bn a year.
CBI view
“Creating new routes to emerging markets will open doors to trade, boosting growth, creating jobs and driving investment right across the country. Our research shows that eight new daily routes alone could boost exports by up to £1bn a year.”
John Cridland, CBI
“The UK’s economic future cannot be kept waiting on the tarmac any longer. By taking the decision now, the government can send the message, loud and clear, that Britain is open for business.”
Boost exports by up to £1bn
Restrictions on development at the airport included: strict noise restrictions and a ban on night flights. The report also specified a fourth runway at Heathrow should be banned.
But London mayor Boris Johnson, who as long opposed a third runway at Heathrow, predicted today (July 1) that it would never be built. “I think this is the wrong decision and I don't think it is deliverable,” Johnson told the Today programme.
“This would lead to a huge increase in noise pollution and vehicular pollution ... It's the sort of thing you could have got away with in China in the 1950s.”
David Cameron's view
"No ifs, no buts, no third runway at Heathrow."
Prime Minister David Cameron is also on record as opposing expansion at Heathrow. "No ifs, no buts, no third runway at Heathrow," said Cameron.
The government is not expected to respond to the report until this autumn at the earliest. A final decision would end up to 50 years of prevarication about airport expansion in the London area.
The Airports Commission was set up five years ago and is predicted to have cost £20M.
Meanwhile, cargo group IAG Cargo confirmed in 2013 a significant rise in its perishable chilled air freight business over the previous four years, as imports of fruit and vegetables from Africa and Latin America have rocketed.
The amount of perishable goods that IAG Cargo imported into the UK rose by 18.5% from 54,000t in 2008/9 to 64,000t in 2012 “our biggest year ever” for global products, said IAG Cargo's Darren Peek.