Boris’s airport could get axe in Davies report
THE MAYOR’s plans for a hub airport in the Thames Estuary could get the axe in a report out later this month, Boris Johnson’s own aviation adviser has warned.
Daniel Moylan told industry experts that the plan for an airport based on the Isle of Grain in north Kent or on an artificial island is vulnerable, as Sir Howard Davies whittles down proposals to boost airport capacity in the south. “I think the option that is most at risk, being frank, is a new airport in the estuary,” he said.
Sir Howard is expected to publish his proposal on 17 December, having considered 58 responses to a consultation on improving capacity at airports around London. Moylan told the Telegraph that the mayor wants to see both the Thames Estuary proposal and one to boost flights at Stansted in the final report.
“If the estuary proposals are eliminated then it is incumbent on the Airports Commission and ministers to come clean with Londoners and the public about whether they can really contemplate inflicting the misery of an expanded Heathrow on a million people or developing Gatwick into a four-runway hub airport,” he said.