A campaign with the widest support

An extraordinary coalition has built up to fight the proposals to expand Heathrow.

National papers and periodicals - most notably The Sunday Times and The Economist - have spoken with one voice against expansion. Countrywide organisations such as The National Trust have expressed their opposition. All four main candidates for London mayor were against expansion. And the 2M group of councils has now grown to represent four million people.

The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats are opposed to Heathrow expansion, with the Conservatives stating that if elected they will stop the third runway from going ahead.

And opposition to Heathrow expansion has become a flagship campaign for the environmental movement, with 2007's climate camp, 2008's direct action at Heathrow itself and on the roof of Parliament, and more to come in 2009.

The links on this page provide a view of the breadth of support enjoyed by the campaign against Heathrow expansion, plus news of what is happening on some of the key issues.

Articles

Top executives lead revolt on Heathrow third runway

Sunday Times, 3rd May 2009
"The leaders of some of Britain's biggest companies have begun a revolt against plans for a third runway at London's Heathrow airport. The campaign includes chief executives of leading companies - Justin King of J Sainsbury, Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse, Ian Cheshire of Kingfisher, and Sir Roy Gardner, chairman of Compass."
Read the article.

Heathrow case undermined

Sunday Times, 8th February 2009
"An independent parliamentary audit has called into question the government's economic and environmental case for expanding Heathrow airport."
Read the article.

Heathrow rebel alliance is cleared for take-off

Sunday Times, 18th Janaury 2009
"A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times shows the strength of the opposition. The national poll, of more than 2,000 people, carried out after the decision to go ahead with the third runway was announced, shows only 29% support it, with 42% opposed. The rest of those in the sample are undecided."
Read the article.

BAA plans 30% rise in Heathrow night flights

Sunday Times, 18th Janaury 2009
"BAA has forecast a jump in night flights of almost 30% once the third runway is operating at full capacity."
Read the article.

Opponents vow to fight plan for third runway

The Independent, 16th Janaury 2009
"Having taken legal advice, the Conservatives are convinced that an incoming government would have the power to scrap all contracts agreed between the airports operator BAA and its sub-contractors ..."
Read the article.

London's Airports

Financial Times Lex Column, 9th May 2008
"Other, even simpler, solutions should now be considered - such as limiting the number of flights into Heathrow."

Third runway is a flight of fallacy

Sunday Times, 4th May 2008
Article by Bob Ayling, former chief executive of British Airways:
"A third runway at Heathrow is against Britain's economic interests. It is being driven by BAA, the Spanish-owned airport operator, and the misguided aspirations of British airlines. It is likely, in the long term, to prove a costly mistake." Read the article.

Heathrow plans crash zone on motorway

Sunday Times, 13th April 2008
"Plans for a third runway at Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, flout safety guidelines by placing a proposed crash-landing zone on top of a motorway junction." Read the article.

Ministers out of touch over Heathrow Airport

Daily Telegraph, 3rd April 2008
"BAA, the unions and ministers are planning to give us what we do not want or need, because their lives will become more difficult if they fail." Read the article.

So what on earth can we do about Heathrow?

Evening Standard, 28th March 2008
"Don't even think about expanding the world's busiest airport until its many current problems are sorted out, says one business commentator." Read the article.

Hemmed in at Heathrow

The Economist, 27th March 2008
"London's main airport is bursting at the seams. A third runway and a sixth terminal are not the answer to the congestion." Read the article.

Revealed: the plot to expand Heathrow

Sunday Times, 9th March 2008
"The airports operator BAA colluded with government officials to "fix" the evidence in favour of a new third runway at Heathrow, an investigation has found. Documents seen by The Sunday Times reveal that BAA executives prevented the use of data in the consultation document which showed that the expansion would cause unlawful levels of pollution and extra noise." Read the article.