The construction of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport will limit expansion across the UK’s other airports, a new study has suggested.
The Campaign for Better Transport has concluded that targets limiting aviation emissions will prevent the planned second runway at Stansted and expansion at other airports, if Heathrow’s capacity is increased.
As part of a number of environmental measures, Geoff Hoon, the transport minister, has agreed to limit the UK’s aviation carbon emissions to 2005 levels by 2050.
Stephen Joseph, executive director of the sustainable transport lobby, suggested that these safeguards were “falling apart”.
He said: “Either the minister has not done his sums properly or he is so determined to expand Heathrow that he is willing to cap capacity at every other airport to do it.”
In recent weeks, Bristol Airport and Birmingham International Airport have announced plans for future expansion.
