London mayor accuses ministers of favouring third Heathrow runway
London mayor Boris Johnson has accused the Coalition government of delaying a decision about a new airport for the southeast until after the next general election.
He told BBC’s Newsnight the government appeared to be favouring an additional runway for Heathrow rather than his idea of a completely new airport in the Thames Estuary.
However, Johnson told the programme he would "die in a ditch" to prevent a third runway. Acknowledging it would take 15 to 20 years to build a totally new airport, he said expansion at Gatwick or Stansted would be a better "interim" solution to further expansion at Heathrow.
The government is due to publish a consultation paper on expanding airport capacity in the southeast and some ministers are known to be in favour of building additional runways to create employment and economic growth, although the coalition agreement rules out a third runway.
Johnson’s plan, nicknamed Boris Island, would create a four-hub airport in the Thames Estuary, with twice the capacity of Heathrow.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025