Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said Heathrow bosses are “driving a gigantic 747” through their own expansion plans.
In a report in the London Evening Standard, Boris responded to the suggestions by the Heathrow CEO, John Holland Kaye, that Heathrow cannot meet the very timid conditions set by the Airports Commission for a third Heathrow runway.
Basically it means that Heathrow cannot meet the Airport Commission terms without a fourth runway.
And not having a a fourth runway is one of the terms.
Heathrow boss messes up?
Acoring to the Standard, Holland Kaye suggested that Heathrow could have difficulty meeting two of the Airport Commission’s conditions.
The conditions the Heathrow boss says he may not meet are:
- no night flights
- no fourth runway
The Airports Commission recommended a 3rd runway at Heathrow, subject to a number of conditions (noise, compensation, local consultation, air quality etc). But Heathrow is not keen on these conditions, and now says it is “seeking discussions with government ” on them.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow chief executive, said Heathrow “would have to consider” the demand from the Commission that there should not be night flights, and that there should be a legal prohibition on a 4th runway.
But Heathrow says: “We will work with the government to make sure we have a solution that can be delivered. I am not saying today that we will accept all the conditions that have been put down.”
Mr Johnson told the Evening Standard:
“John Holland-Kaye has driven a gigantic 747 through the middle of that recommendation. That’s why the government must say no to a runway slap bang in the middle of London’s western suburbs.”