Government to delay review of airport capacity

The government is expected to delay a move to consider proposals for expanding airport capacity until the autumn, The Times reports.

The paper reports the Department for Transport’s aviation policy paper, which will be published today, won’t include any consideration of airport capacity around the capital.

Instead the paper is expected to outline plans on emissions, night flights, noise levels and regional airports only.

Proposals for additional capacity around London include a third runway at Heathrow and an ambitious four runway airport in the Thames Estuary, drawn up by architect Forster + Partners. But these will now not be considered by the government until the autumn.

The government has committed to no further expansion at Heathrow but pressure from business leaders to increase capacity around the capital has been mounting as they argue a lack of airport links to China and other emerging economies will stifle growth.