Member Article

Heathrow CEO hails 'broad support' for expansion but doubts persist about air pollution

The Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport John Holland-Kaye has hailed what he calls the ‘broad support’ that expansion at the London airport has across the country just as the government prepares to make a final decision on the plans.

Coming at the same time as the airport announced figures which show a record number of passengers (57.3m) passed through the airport in the first nine months of this year, Holland-Kaye seemed confident that Heathrow would win the race for a third runway.

Praising Theresa May’s ‘strong leadership’, he said that the airport stood ready to deliver a new runway as soon as it got the ‘greenlight from the government’.

Despite protestations from environmental campaigners and local residents, the pendulum seems to have swung back into Heathrow’s favour this week with a decision by the government imminent.

However, a parliamentary vote still needs to take place next year to fully give expansion the go ahead and while the likelihood of protracted battles in the courts are likely to delay work beginning even further.

Despite Holland-Kaye’s confidence, there are still significant concerns about the negative impact on air quality and noise pollution as a result of a third runway and increased air traffic at the south east airport.

A leaked memo penned by a former adviser to David Cameron revealed yesterday that the government could be significantly exposed once a decision has been made, arguing that it does not have an answer on the issue of air quality.

Written by Camilla Cavendish a year ago in response to a draft of the then environment secretary Liz Truss’ air quality plan, it alleges that the government does not ‘have an answer on air quality’ for Heathrow expansion.

Following the leak, Cavendish, who is now a peer, said: “Now this is in the public domain I have to say that I believe successive governments have failed the public on air quality. Too many people in Whitehall and parliament think they can play it down because it’s invisible.

“But the scientific evidence shows that air pollution, especially particulates from diesel vehicles, is a growing threat to health. I continue to believe that government policy underwhelms and overclaims, including on Heathrow where expansion will increase pollution.”