Emerging economies give lift to airport operator’s figures

A NEW £50bn “Boris Island” airport in the Thames Estuary moved a step closer in January, when the Government announced it would hold a formal consultation on the future of UK aviation.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

The study is considering several options but London Mayor Boris Johnson said the Government is “increasingly interested” in proposals to build an airport on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Plans have been drawn up by Lord Foster for a 24-hour, four-runway airport built on reclaimed land capable of handling 150m passengers a year.

Prime Minister David Cameron has ruled out building a third runway at Heathrow Airport as an alternative.

Mr Johnson said in January: “I think that where we are is that the Government is increasingly interested in this idea.”

Colin Matthews, the chief executive of BAA, said an island hub was “very expensive” and “decades away”.

He added it would almost certainly cause the closure of Heathrow, with the loss of 100,000 jobs.

Labour has joined trade unions and environmentalists in condemning the estuary idea.