Businesses call for airport action

Chief executives of 25 of London’s leading businesses will tomorrow confront Government aviation supremo Sir Howard Davies to demand immediate action to fix Britain’s airports capacity crisis.

Members of lobby group London First say that British business will fall behind without three fixes for its airports: an immediate rise in the number of flights operating at Heathrow, an independent “noise regulator” to protect residents, and investment to improve road and rail links to Stansted and Gatwick.

Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: “Debating the pros and cons of new airports and runways is all very well. But the more pressing concern is what we are going to do right now to increase our connectivity with emerging markets and grow our economy.”

Among those attending the meeting will be bosses of CitiGroup, CLS Group, Nomura, Linklaters, Ernst & Young and 3i Group.

In December, Sir Howard will release an interim report proposing short-term fixes before making his full report in 2015.