Resolve airport crisis before it’s too late, says Sir Martin Sorrell

Urgent action to solve London’s airport capacity crisis was demanded today by a former government international business czar.

Sir Martin Sorrell, who amassed an estimated £115 million fortune as head of advertising firm WPP, called on ministers to take a decision on the future of Heathrow before it is too late.

He said: “We have to expand capacity, whether we like it or not, if we want to be an economic success.

“People are becoming increasingly frustrated and somebody needs to do something about it now. Some have suggested a new airport. I do not know if that’s the answer or if we should build a third runway at Heathrow but we should make a decision either way.”

London’s premier airport is at maximum capacity and cannot accept new routes. Meanwhile, European rivals such as Paris and Frankfurt have seen passenger numbers rise.

Sir Martin, appointed Ambassador for British Business by the Foreign Office in 1997, also said London must forge better links with fast-growing Asian economies if it is to remain a global business centre.

And he claimed the UK’s image as a tourism and business destination has been damaged by the recent queuing chaos at Heathrow.