Stop dithering Boris, and give us lift-off for Heathrow’s vital third runway

He once said he’d lie down in front of bulldozers to stop it. But now he’s PM, a formidable array of business leaders, airline chiefs, unions and investors urge . . .

BUSINESS leaders have joined forces to demand that Boris Johnson ends decades of dithering over a third runway at Heathrow and publicly endorse the £14 billion scheme.

The Prime Minister is yet to throw his weight behind the airport expansion after vigorously opposing it in 2015 when he became MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip – just a few miles from Heathrow – even pledging to lie down in front of the bulldozers.

Fears that Mr Johnson could yet derail the project are holding back progress, sources told The Mail on Sunday.

The company that runs Heathrow has already said the project has been delayed by ‘at least 12 months’ after its spending plans were rejected in December by the aviation watchdog over planning permission concerns.

Now groups representing tens of thousands of businesses are urging Mr Johnson to publicly endorse the expansion, which they argue would give Britain a major economic boost following the departure from the EU.

They said unleashing Heathrow’s full potential as a cargo and trading hub by vastly increasing capacity would play a crucial role in opening up Britain to the world. According to estimates, building a third runway would add £150 billion to GDP over 60 years, create 70,000 jobs – potentially rising to 180,000 across the country – and add up to 260,000 more flights in and out of the UK each year.

Those calling for urgent action include major airlines such as easyJet and JetBlue – America’s sixth biggest carrier – as well as Britain’s largest pension fund, the £60 billion Universities Superannuation Scheme, construction giant Balfour Beatty and trade union Unite.

‘We’ve spent too long dithering on Heathrow so it’s vital construction begins as soon as possible,’ said Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of trade body London First, whose board members include Legal & General boss Nigel Wilson and Virgin Group chairman Peter Norris.

She added: ‘As we leave the EU, it’s more important than ever that the UK has world-class transport links so we can forge new trade deals across the globe. An expanded Heathrow would also connect all regions of the UK with each other and with global trading partners – it would be a great way for the Government to meet its objective of levelling up the country.’

Heathrow has operated at full capacity for years after political wrangling frustrated expansion plans. It now operates three quarters of long-haul flights from the UK, accommodates 80 million passengers a year and employs more than 75,000 people. It also handles a third of the UK’s exports, by value, sent outside the EU each year.

A string of airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic – which in September announced plans to fly to 84 new destinations from Heathrow if a third runway is opened – have backed a third runway, which would see rivals to British Airways given more access and break its dominance at the hub.

An easyJet spokesman said last night: ‘Not only will expansion at Heathrow bring significant benefits to all parts of the UK, it is in the best interests of all passengers and would enable low-cost airlines like easyJet to operate from Heathrow.’

Robin Hayes, chief executive of low-cost US giant Jet Blue, who also worked at British Airways for 19 years, said a third runway would result in ‘ very significant’ fare reductions. ‘ We are in furious agreement with the need to build a third runway at Heathrow and the sooner it happens the better,’ he told The Mail on Sunday. ‘At the moment fares from Heathrow to the US are obscene. The relationship between the UK and US will be even more important going forwards and lowering fares for air travel is one of the things that can spur trade between the two nations.’

The debate on expansion has raged for the past two decades. An Airport Commission report by Sir Howard Davies, published in 2015 under former PM David Cameron, said the choice of Heathrow – against rivals such as Gatwick – as the airport to be expanded was ‘clear and unanimous’.

Davies warned the Government at the time to ‘move as quickly as it can’ or be seen as unwilling to ‘take the steps needed to maintain its position as a well-connected open trading economy’.

In 2018, MPs voted in favour of Heathrow expansion. But the plan still requires official planning permission after a period of consultation with a host of interested parties. Under the plans, 761 homes will be demolished and compensation paid to local residents.

Heathrow has outlined green initiatives to limit noise and air pollution. These include boosting public transport around the airport, using renewable energy, strict emissions targets and a ban on late- night flights. However, environmental concerns and local opposition have not gone away, adding to the sense of nervousness among businesses about the PM’s intentions. In 2008, Mr Johnson laid out a plan for a floating Thames Estuary alternative to a third runway – dubbed ‘Boris Island’ – but abandoned the idea.

Transport Minister Grant Shapps, a long-term supporter of a third Heathrow runway, will begin making a decision later this year over whether to grant the consent order. Even if it passes smoothly, construction might not be completed until 2028 or 2029.

It is understood that if the PM signals his endorsement, Heathrow could start buying land and potentially speed up the timetable.

Leo Quinn, group chief executive at Balfour Beatty, said: ‘Building and maintaining confidence in vital major infrastructure schemes such as the Heathrow expansion is paramount to ensuring the UK retains the capability and skills needed to deliver them.’

Hannah Essex, of the British Chambers of Commerce, which represents 75,000 businesses, said: ‘Britain’s businesses know additional capacity at Heathrow is essential for the UK to remain a global trading nation. It’s time for the dithering to end, and for work to begin.’

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, said: ‘It’s the correct thing to do for jobs, the economy and to maintain Heathrow as a hub for international business.’

‘It is essential if the UK is to stay a global trading nation’