The world’s largest airlines have ruled out moving from Heathrow to another UK airport, bolstering the chances of a contentious third runway at Europe’s busiest hub.
All three global airline alliances have said they want to stay at Heathrow, even though some of the options being considered by an independent inquiry into the hub’s overcrowded runways would require them to shift to one of the smaller airports around London.
The airports commission chaired by the economist Sir Howard Davies is examining at least three solutions to Heathrow’s problems: adding a third runway there; expanding Gatwick airport south of the city, or building a new hub to the east of London in the Thames estuary.