A government minister has given one of the strongest indications yet that the green light will be given for a third runway at Heathrow.
Although a formal decision over Heathrow Airport expansion is not due until the end of the year, business secretary John Hutton made some revealing comments at the Farnborough airshow.
Responding to concerns raised by environmental and local residents groups, he said some “difficult decisions” would have to be made over Heathrow’s expansion.
Hutton explained: “British businesses – and ultimately the British people – would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility to do what’s right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups.”
And making an almost unequivocal assertion that expansion is on the cards, he added: “We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people’s opportunities to fly altogether.”
Last month, employers’ lobby group London First said that airport regulator BAA should focus on improving – rather than expanding – services if it wants to entice more business-related travel.
