Airport of the future

SIR – The planned runway at Heathrow (Letters, June 7) will only solve the problems of today and will, by the time it’s finished, have cost £30billion, including infrastructure.

By this time, air traffic will have increased and Heathrow will, once more, be groaning under immense pressure.

The dismissed Thames Estuary Airport would cost about £50billion, including infrastructure, and have four runways. It could easily accommodate tomorrow’s air traffic and also alleviate pollution and noise over Heathrow and central London.

It’s easy to see which solution would cost less in the long term. Roger West

Appenzell, Switzerland

SIR – During the debate on the third runway at Heathrow, much emphasis has been placed on opening new routes to emerging markets.

It is as well to remember that neither Heathrow airport nor the Government chooses the routes that airlines fly. This is a commercial decision for the airlines using the airport, most of which are not British.

It is likely that much of the extra capacity provided by a third runway will be used to provide more flights on routes already served. David Starkie

London SW8