CWT - International

International

Britain gives go-ahead for Heathrow expansion

Congested Heathrow International Airport—the busiest in the world, handling 65 million passengers a year—has been given the go-ahead to build a third runway and a new terminal as part of a USD $13.2-billion expansion. The additional runway will expand traffic from 480,000 to 600,000 flights a year, and provide new flight paths across London.

It is anticipated that the required planning application will take approximately a year to prepare. The proposed expansion would also involve demolition of approximately 700 homes in the village of Sipson.

Greenpeace and other concerned environmental activists have purchased land on the planned runway site and hope to thwart the process. The project seems to pit job creation and economic growth against the British commitment to control climate change through carbon emissions control.

Sources: Calgary Herald, ABCNews.com