BAA boss pushes for a bigger Heathrow

BAA's chief executive, Colin Matthews, pressed the case for Heathrow expansion again yesterday, as passenger numbers at Europe's busiest airport hit a new September record of 6.3 million.

There were 14 per cent more passengers from Brazil than in the same month last year, and 5.9 per cent more Chinese. The only fall was in Indian visitors (down 7 per cent), as debt-laden Kingfisher Airlines faces possible shutdown.

The Coalition has ruled out a third runway at Heathrow before 2015, but it has appointed a commission led by former Financial Services Authority boss Sir Howard Davies to explore ways to expand airport capacity.