Heathrow expansion critical, says CBI

CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn has asserted that a new runway at Heathrow is critical to the UK economy as the “UK must be open for business, and to the world,” or risk being left behind.

Fairbairn warned that any more delay and “our competitors – who have been busy building their own aviation capacity and trade relationships – will pull further ahead.”

Fairbairn spoke ahead Monday’s parliamentary vote on the National Policy Statement for Heathrow expansion. She explained that new air routes will help create billions of pounds in growth, tens of thousands of UK jobs and help the economy by enabling “entrepreneurs to export to the booming growth markets of the world.”

“Time is up on indecision and delay on the new runway at Heathrow,” said Fairbairn, “we have reached the day when Parliament needs to say yes.”

In addition, Theresa May’ international minister Greg Hands resigned from the Heathrow expansion issue on Thursday 21 June so that he could vote against the proposed expansion.