Reader views (17)

 Add your view

Predictable twaddle from Mr Walsh. A third runway is most definitely not going to be the essential economic saviour he is trying to convince us it would be-and if commercial aviation is so vital to our well-being why have several runways in southern England been torn up?-Hatfield and Greenham Common to name two. Manston remains but is not properly used. Bentwaters could have become a freight airport. If commercial aviation was taxed at the levels that ground based transport was( ie. tax on FUEL), then it would grow in a manageable manner and be accommodated on existing runways, but thanks to a powerful aviation lobby in high places airlines are encouraged to pollute with noise and greenhouse gases and allow good residential and arable land to be concreted over-an insane policy given the clear evidence of climate change and the major contribution that jet aircraft cause, and which a third runway at LHR can only exacerbate.

- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK

Heathrow will never be able to compete with other airports on the continent that have been specifically built away from population centres & now is the time to build in The Thames Estuary. Mr. Walsh is only concerned with short term profit for BA, not the lives of Londoners or the long term prosperity of the UK. 6 runways can be built in The Thames Estuary & all the so called problems like infrastructure & birds can be managed as they always are.

- James Marsh, London

Mr Walsh will you tell this to the face of the children who must have a huge increase on asthma that the economy comes first, will you tell this to the elderly who will die early because of this, will you even dare to come with TV crews to gardens in Clapham or Putney and state this - NO No No. This is wrong because it is against the public interest on health grounds, its wrong because noise pollution already unbearable will double making outside activity impossible. Its wrong because flying is yesterdays carbon based transport - electric rail is tomorrow spend our money on that and keep flying only for long distance. The Hubs we supposedly compete against were all built especially to protect people not DESTROY THERE LIVES and that of their children.

- Christian Ball, London, UK

.and exactly does Mr Walsh live ? I bet it`s not anywhere in the flightpath of Heathrow...
London`s third airport needs to be anythere but Heathrow. The thames estury is ideal. British engineers need the work. Let`s get on with it.
As for Mr Walsh, perhaps he should stay in Bermuda ?

- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK

Its time to develop a new airport, farther out, where room exists. Put a "no housing" zone around it to minimize complaints. The economy will carry on just fine - well, if it ever gets out of the crapper its current inside.

- Trunk, US

An economic downturn is no excuse to put off a third runway! Once the economy regains strength, Heathrow will continue to suffer from congestion. Therefore, I find that argument really naive. Second, a third runway would allow for more slots. Although British Airways will be able to have more slots, so will other airlines! Third, a third runway should not be disastrous for the environment. Think about it! There wouldn't be a dozen planes circling around London in holding patterns anymore if a third runway is built! Furthermore, Paris has more aircraft movements than Heathrow does every year, yet they do not have environmental concerns! Fourth, if there is fog at Heathrow or some other minor glitch, hundreds of flights are thrown off and thousands of passengers are screwed. I believe a third runway is necessary to relieve some the other two runways so that if a small disaster like fog occurs, flights will be able to catch up. Fifth, it means Heathrow can continue to grow and edge out other European airports. I do believe, however, that if a third runway is built, all three runways at Heathrow should not be allowed to run at more than 85% capacity. Otherwise, a third runway would create more problems than it would solve. People need to realize that something needs to be done quickly to solve this problem! Heathrow is too crowded, and nothing but a third runway will solve that problem unless an airport in the Thames estuary is feasible! Come on Britain!!!!

- Shaun, College Park USA

An economic downturn is no excuse to put off a third runway! Once the economy regains strength, Heathrow will continue to suffer from congestion. Therefore, I find that argument really naive. Second, a third runway would allow for more slots. Although British Airways will be able to have more slots, so will other airlines! Third, a third runway should not be disastrous for the environment. Think about it! There wouldn't be a dozen planes circling around London in holding patterns anymore if a third runway is built! Furthermore, Paris has more aircraft movements than Heathrow does every year, yet they do not have environmental concerns! Fourth, if there is fog at Heathrow or some other minor glitch, hundreds of flights are thrown off and thousands of passengers are screwed. I believe a third runway is necessary to relieve some the other two runways so that if a small disaster like fog occurs, flights will be able to catch up. Fifth, it means Heathrow can continue to grow and edge out other European airports. I do believe, however, that if a third runway is built, all three runways at Heathrow should not be allowed to run at more than 85% capacity. Otherwise, a third runway would create more problems than it would solve. People need to realize that something needs to be done quickly to solve this problem! Heathrow is too crowded, and nothing but a third runway will solve that problem unless an airport in the Thames estuary is feasible! Come on Britain!!!!

- Shaun, College Park USA

Wow, that's a turn up for the books, airline exec says more airport please... again. This time it will spell the end of our way of life if he doesn't get his way.

If it wasn't for foreigners like Willie writting to the newspapers, worrying about our national economy once a fortnight, then the whole country would probably go down the toilet?

- Rich, London

Rubbish!

- Wa, Oxfordshire

"Failure to approve the third runway at Heathrow would result in the British economy suffering 30 years of gloom, British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said today."

....well he would say that, wouldn't he?

- Toby Webster, Ongar, England

Nick, the Thames Estuary airport idea is bonkers. It's on the wrong side of London for most British people, and it will destroy far more wildlife than building a third runway at Heathrow. Also the area is lacking in public transport. They should just build the third runway, people should stop moaning and move on. Boris is only opposing it because Labour are supporting it, he's been taking lessons from David Cameron on how to come up with "policies".

- Dylan, London

What else would you expect from the self-interested Mr Walsh?! It didn't merit being reported.

- Phil Jones, London UK

I don't think Mr Walsh realises the true extent of the opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

Perhaps he can console himself with the fact that the recession will reduce the demand for air travel such that Heathrow's existing two runways should be able to cope.

- Martin, Reading, UK

There's already a 3rd runway: it's called Gatwick. For that matter there's a 4th at City airport too.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland

What will those consequences be Sir Willy? Slightly fewer low cost flights? Less than 20 translantic flights a day? Or does he mean the revenue BAA get from connecting passengers landing and more importantly the extension of BA's semi-monopoly on take-off slots from Heathrow? I know which one my money is on.

- Mark, London

If there isn't the capacity in the area (roads), capacity in the air or environmental capacity (pollution limits), then the runway should't go ahead, never mind what the economic repercussions, it's as simple as that. We are a small island, and our strategic planning must always reflect this fact. It is why our cities have green belts to stop urbanisation forever expanding outwards. Heathrow will remain major transport hub, and capacity can be shifted to further expansion at Gatwick and new airport in Thames Gateway, and new high-speed rail link linking Heathrow to Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh.

- Build 3rd Runway & Millions Will Suffer, Harrow

Much more research needs to be done on building a new airport in the Thames estuary before a decision is made to expand Heathrow. The noise and air pollution around Heathrow is a major problem now and with more vehicles and more aircraft if a new terminal is built the problem will get worse.

- Nick, London SE5

Add your comment