A stunned British Airways boss was shocked to find the Heathrow Airport third runway expansion plans include demolishing the company's headquarters.
Chief executive of BA's partner company IAG, Willie Walsh, claimed that he was not given any formal warning of the proposals, which go straight through the offices.
Despite operating half of all flights at the airport, Mr Walsh told The Guardian he was astounded to find out by looking at a map of the plans.
He said: "We were never actually informed or advised by Heathrow that they intended to knock down our headquarters."
"The first I saw of it was when the Airport Commission report came out and I saw a map and I thought, that looks very close to Waterside.
"Then I discovered it actually went right through Waterside."
IAG and British Airways Headquarters are based in Harmondsworth, a "Heathrow village" where around 800 homes are being knocked down should it go ahead in 2021 following a compulsory purchase order.
A statement from Heathrow Airport read: "British Airways has been consulted on the detail of our expansion plans throughout, including options for the relocation of Waterside ahead of the submission to the Airports Commission.
Heathrow Airport third runway
"We are optimising our plans and are determined to work with our airlines to deliver them as cost efficiently as possible, which in turn will keep our airline charges as close to flat with today’s charges as possible."
Theresa May's announcement to select west London has sparked further debate in the nearby boroughs, with support from places such as the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, but a legal challenge from five councils and Greenpeace.
The latest saga against the confirmed expansion led to 15 arrests after Campaign group RiseUp! organised a rally and blocked the highway leading to the west London travel hub.
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