London mayor slams government over London runways controversy

Mayor of London Boris Johnson is heavily criticising government reluctance to even discuss London’s need for additional airport runways to cope with increasing demand.

The outspoken Mr Johnson is calling the coalition government ‘crazy’ for refusing to even discus the controversial subject of extra runways at London’s airports. At a People’s Question Time earlier this week he warned a delay in dealing with the shortage of runways would damage the country’s long-term competitiveness.

His comments were made shortly after figures showing London Heathrow has slipped from its place as second busiest world airport to fourth were released by the International Airports Council. Atlanta, Beijing and Chicago O’Hare all had passenger throughputs higher than Heathrow’s.

The airport’s director of policy and political relations, Nigel Milton, welcomed the mayor’s statement, saying Heathrow’s lowered position in world rankings is a cause for concern and a worrying trend directly related to the airport’s inability to develop new routes because of a lack of runway capacity.

BAA believes, he continued, London needs an increase in its airport capacity in order to strengthen trading links and encourage the development of the future economic growth on which it depends, adding he welcomed Mr Johnson’s comments.

The London mayor also took the opportunity to attack the soaring cost of Air Passenger Duty, stating the ‘bourgeois repression of citizens’ ability to take overseas holidays should they so wish’ is an ‘absolute disgrace’. He added the examination of aviation capacity is ‘a matter of social justice’.