Flights to London to double

Passenger numbers using London's three main airports are going to double, it was announced today.

The phenomenal growth in traffic will mean a corresponding jump in the number of flights into Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted raising fresh fears about noise and pollution for those under the flightpaths.

To cope with the massive increase over the next two decades - up to 153 million passengers within the first 10 years - airport operator BAA today announced a record i nvestment pro g ramme of £8.1 billion.

It marks growing confidence within the industry that it has recovered from the impact of the 11 September terror attacks on the US. A BAA spokesman said: "We are getting back on track."

The expansion plans will mean more flights and airports streamlined to turn around services faster. But those living near the flight paths immediately voiced their concerns over much higher levels of noise, pollution and traffic levels from those heading to the airports by car.

The number of passengers using Heathrow is forecast to increase from 60million a year now to 85million by 2012-2013. Over the same period those using Gatwick will increase from 30.5million to 42 million and Stansted from 14 million to 26 million.

By 2003-4, BAA expects growth forecasts to have returned to normal after the worldwide slump in air travel in the wake of the terrorist atrocities on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The near doubling of passenger numbers at Stansted over the next decade has led BAA to calculate its expansion plans for the airport even before it gets planning permission.

Most of the new money, about £6.6billion, goes to Heathrow. A huge tranche, £3.4 billion, goes to Ter minal 5 and a further £3.1 billion on other works at Heathrow including £670million on Terminal 3 and £290million on Terminal 1. Gatwick will get £980 million and Stansted - where a £60 million terminal extension opened today - £600million.

Mike Hodgkinson, BAA chief executive, said: "Forecasting longterm traffic growth in detail is difficult given the recent turmoil in the aviation industry and the fact that the Government's framework for airport development has not been published.

"However, there is no doubt that, in the long term, demand will continue to be strong and we are confident that traffic will double over the next 20 years." He said the investment announced today, funded from internal sources and borrowing, is "essential if Britain is to have the quality airports it needs".

Anti-noise campaigning group Hacan (Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) said the expansion plans would mean more noise pollution and stress for people living under the flightpaths of the three airports.

Chairman John Stewart said: "Our fear is more passengers will mean more aeroplanes and more noise. Increasing passenger capacity will also mean more traffic arriving at the airports and more strain on the roads.

"The plan is realistic as far as BAA is concerned because they believe passenger numbers will inevitably increase. We think it should be down to the Government to put up tax on aviation fuel and so manage passenger numbers."

The plan does not take into account any extra runways that could be built in the South-East. Government options for airport and runway capacity are to be published shortly, to be followed by an aviation White Paper which is expected to contain firm policy.

Can London cope?