AS A decision nears on HS2, the issue of a third runway at Heathrow Airport has been raised again.
The Government cancelled the expansion in May 2010, and is not expected to deliver its aviation strategy until next spring.
But last week the issue of a inter-airport rail link from Gatwick to Heathrow was criticised by the chief executive of the holding company which owns British Airways (BA), Willie Walsh.
He said: “I think the opportunity for expansion has been missed, and we will look back in future years and say that was a mistake.”
His colleague, BA chief executive Keith Williams, said: “The Government must take action now. There are no easy choices, but avoiding these choices is to undermine the UK aviation and aerospace industry and to hinder the economic recovery.”
Their criticism came as Frankfurt Airport opened its £1.3billion fourth runway on Friday, in an atmosphere where some observers feel a third runway at Heathrow has to come back on to the table as part of an integrated transport strategy that includes HS2.
John Randall, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Con), said: “The aviation industry are really having a strong go at the moment. They are insistent we have got it wrong.”
