26 November 2007 Heathrow runway is "only long-term solution"
The only long-term solution to the Heathrow Airport congestion problem is a third runway, it has been claimed.
Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) made the comment following the government's announcement that there is to be a consultation on the proposal.
According to the IATA, Heathrow Airport is one of the world's most overcrowded airports with 477,000 of its annual 480,000 slots already allocated from March 2008.
Mr Bisignani added that there could be environmental benefits resulting from a third runway.
"The consultation committee will be weighing up the costs as well as the benefits for the economy and the environment. Let's get the calculation right. A congested airport with chronic delays has an unnecessary environmental cost. So capacity expansion has an environmental benefit," he explained.
The government consultation will focus on ways for the airport to be developed in the coming 20 years and how "additional runway capacity" could be provided.
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