News

The Government is expected to launch a consultation this Friday (23 November) on plans to increase Heathrow's capacity from 480,000 to 550,000 flights a year.

As well as the increase in capacity, which would be achieved by allowing mixed use of runways for take-off and landing, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly will also propose building a new runway by 2015, increasing flights to 720,000 a year.

Recent Government proposals to short-cut public inquiries into plans for major infrastructure projects would speed up the runway's construction.

Industry leaders, including British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh and Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway, are expected to call for a third runway this Thursday (22 November) - joined by CBI director general Richard Lambert and Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC union federation.

Opponents are expected to question the validity of the consultation after it was revealed Heathrow operator BAA was involved in preparing the Government's case.

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