Fallout From Brexit Pushes Decision Until After A New Prime Minister Is Chosen

Among the many effects of Brexit ... the British vote to leave the EU ... is another delay in a decision about which London-area airport will be expanded.

The U.K. government announced this week that there will now be no decision until after a new prime minister is elected. PM David Cameron, who was strongly in favor of remaining in the EU, announced his decision to step down immediately following the vote.

Buying Business Travel reports that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the government is still committed to expanding one airport, but that he does not anticipate a decision being announced for a few months at least. "Being realistic, I cannot foresee an announcement until at least October," he said. "[However], the government is fully committed to delivering this important infrastructure project."

The announcement had been delayed previously by the election of a new Mayor of London following the exit of Boris Johnson, who was briefly mentioned as being a candidate for Prime Minister. Johnson had advocated building an entirely new airport on the Thames Estuary that was eliminated from the competition.

The government will eventually decide whether Heathrow or Gatwick airports will be the beneficiary of a new runway to create an international hub in the London area.

(Images from file. Top: proposed second runway at Gatwick. Bottom: proposed third runway at Heathrow)

FMI: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport