Boris Johnson's fantasy island airport
In a move which was probably based upon a need for change in the UK airport industry it has been reported that the Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson is considering moving Heathrow airport to an island in the Thames. It is being suggested that a costing process will soon be under way to gauge the viability of such a project and the implications for the surrounding areas.
However, the move has been ridiculed by all parties with even the slightest interest, from those campaigning against noise levels in the Heathrow area to the airline industry itself. How on earth could a government fly in the face of investment decisions made over the last 50 years and affectively take Heathrow (the world's busiest airport) out of the picture and relocate to a new area outside of London?
However, a quick review of the international airline industry will show that other governments have been able to transfer their main airports to islands with the likes of the US and Hong Kong springing to mind. Whether such a move would ever occur in the UK is very debateable although is it a coincidence that BAA - the leader in the UK airport sector - is being forced to water down its operations?
Such comment as those coming from the Mayor's office do nothing but muddy the water and who would pay for the project? The poor tax payer again?
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