Irish Examiner View: Decisions based on environmental impact are starting to bite

Heathrow's plans may be an early casualty of the coming war between commercial ambition and emission reduction realities

A plane landing on the southern runway at London Heathrow Airport earlier this year. The airport's expansion plans may be put on hold due to costs Picture: Steve Parsons/PA

One early casualty of the coming war between commercial ambitions and environmental realities appears to be Heathrow’s campaign for a third runway after the airport’s biggest shareholder withdrew funding.

Spanish company Ferrovial, angered by the regulatory authority’s refusal to sanction a 90% increase in landing charges, says it is unenthusiastic about development proposals because of reduced returns for investors.  Heathrow has already announced an increase of 56% in fees which would mean an additional charge of €130 on a family of four travelling to, for example, Orlando. Not enough apparently.