Names Three Favored Sites, Plus Two In Thames Estuary

Consultants working for the city of London have identified three possible sites for a new major hub airport, and have not ruled out two additional sites in the Thames Estuary. The consultants were working in conjunction with London Mayor Boris Johnson. The group has ruled out any fourth runway at Heathrow.

The airport would be a four-runway hub designed to compete with major air hubs in Europe. Speaking before the House of Commons transport committee, Johnson said that he prefers a 24-hour 4-runway hub. He asked the committee to narrow the choice down to one or two options for the project.

The online source Buying Business Travel reports that Johnson said that after the new airport opens, likely more than 20 years in the future, Heathrow "would have a great future as a business airport, but not be an 80-million-passenger per year airport."

The consulting group is expected to begin conducting feasibility studies next month, with a goal of reporting to the Davies Commission looking at airport capacity for the U.K. government by October. A new hub airport is projected to cost as much as $124 billion including infrastructure projects like rail access and roadways.

FMI: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commission