Heathrow third runway is backed by ‘overwhelming Parliamentary support’ in airport battle with Gatwick

Both airports agree that a quick decision by the Government would send a signal abroad that the UK is still in business

The London airport has been a hub for British Airways since its inception (Nick Morrish)

After decades of prevarication, a decision about where the next runway to serve the London area will be could be made within days.

The rival airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, believe that the new post-referendum political landscape means the Government needs to make a quick choice. It would send a signal abroad that the UK is still in business, and shore up confidence among investors.

With billions at stake, the public propaganda war and private lobbying by the two airports is reaching a new intensity.

Before polling day, Heathrow surveyed MPs about big UK infrastructure projects, and claimed there was “overwhelming Parliamentary support for Heathrow expansion”.

After the EU vote and the resignation of the Prime Minister, Heathrow’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said the third runway was “a private sector infrastructure project that will spread growth across Britain from the moment that we get a green light”.

Yet an unnamed Government minister told London Evening Standard that the third runway looked "dead in the water", because of the known opposition of the two leading contenders for the Tory leadership: "I cannot see either Boris [Johnson] or Theresa [May] approving it, and it would be difficult to attempt to make a decision until the new leader is elected.”

In Westminster, though, the possibility of a spectacular “Heathrexit” being announced by David Cameron and George Osborne is being talked up.

One observer said: “They will put it to a free vote in the House of Commons, expecting support from Labour under a new leader, as much-needed investment. The SNP will also be on board. Would the new Prime Minister really overturn the will of Parliament and axe a huge infrastructure scheme?”

Tomorrow Gatwick’s chief executive, Stewart Wingate, will tell business leaders at the National Infrastructure Forum annual conference that his airport offers the only deliverable option: “Only Gatwick can balance the economy and the environment. In these uncertain times that means Gatwick can give the country certainty of delivery. And Britain cannot afford yet more delay.”

Disruption continues to affect many thousands of airline passengers. At Heathrow on Monday, British Airways cancelled 24 flights, blaming a shortage of aircraft after an unusually high number of lightning strikes.

Hundreds of flights across Europe have been cancelled today because of another strike by French air-traffic controllers. It is their 52nd stoppage since 2009, according to Ryanair – which has cancelled 166 flights, affecting 30,000 passengers.