‘Boris island’ airport would cause European flight chaos, say airlines

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Mayor hopes to build a six-runway hub on an artificial island off the Kent coast as an alternative to expanding Heathrow.

Michael Carrivick, chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives UK, said the organisation and its members — including British Airways, Air France, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and TWA — did not support the scheme.

The group acts for 80 of the 90 airlines using Heathrow.

Mr Johnson has set up a steering group to look into the project, dubbed "Boris Island", which has been dismissed by environmentalists.

Mr Carrivick cited fears that planes landing at a Thames airport would be hit by birds and said moving London's main air hub would see "massive unemployment" around Heathrow, which employs 70,000 staff directly.

He also warned an east London airport would cause travel chaos as passengers from the South-West, Wales and the southern Midlands would have to travel through or around London to reach it.

Mr Carrivick said: "Any airport operating the estuary would severely affect the use of continental airspace which would require, if it was feasible, considerable re-design.

"It would also severely affect the operations of at least one of the existing London airports on the eastern side of the metropolis.

"And it would still require many departing and arriving aircraft to fly over London, so nullifying one of the reasons for building an estuary airport."

His remarks were echoed by Willie Walsh, head of BA, who said: "Closing Heathrow would create a vast wasteland west of London."

Kwasi Kwarteng, prospective Tory MP for Spelthorne, said: "It would blight business in the Staines area and have a devastating effect on house prices as well as the local economy."

The airlines' comments were welcomed by Medway and Kent councils, which are campaigning against the estuary airport, which they see as a "pie in the sky" idea.