Airline passenger news and views

The various interest groups are yet again getting ready to re-open and re-discuss the decision on the future of the third runway at Heathrow.

The coalition of groups opposed to expansion argue that government’s consultation process was fatally flawed. The government, presumably, regard their process and resulting decision as correct – but perhaps recognise that, post election, all bets may be off.

The main players include Greenpeace and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, plus a number of local authorities within the airport’s noise footprint. They are all set to challenge the decision made by Geoff Hoon in the High Court.

It is very clear that many people dispute the logic of the third runway; some on environmental grounds, some on the economics of air travel and a few who simply do not believe that a British government can be trusted to bring the project in on time or on budget.

Sadly, whichever side of the fence you sit, the greatest damage comes from the uncertainty and the inability to find a workable consensus.