Third runway is key to Heathrow's future, says BA boss

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He said that the "acute" shortage of take-off and landing slots on the existing two runways was the core problem at the airport.

Just weeks after environment campaigners staged a protest camp at Heathrow, Mr Walsh warned against putting concerns about climate change before the economic gains that could be shared across the UK if the airport was expanded.

He said: "Handicapping Heathrow would be an empty gesture - but one that could inflict severe damage on the economic well-being of large sections of the population."

Speaking at the UK Aviation Club, Mr Walsh said that a short third runway would allow the number of flights from Heathrow to increase by between 40 and 50 per cent.

Currently Heathrow is serving fewer destinations than 15 years ago, due to a lack of free runway capacity.

The number of domestic routes has fallen from 21 to nine. Heathrow has already been overtaken by Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Munich and could soon fall behind Madrid, Rome and Milan, Mr Walsh said.

More than 300 people are expected to join a protest today against plans for a new immigration removal centre at Gatwick. The four-day "Gatwick Area No Border" camp has been set up near the airport in opposition to plans announced by the Home Office in March to open a 420-bed immigration removal centre next year.