You may have heard in the news that ‘Boris Island’, the Mayor’s plans for a new airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary, has been formally rejected by the Airports Commission. I still believe the Mayor’s plans are visionary – a real chance for London to build future aviation capacity which I know will be needed in the long term.

So there are two options left in the meantime. One more runway before 2030 at either Gatwick or Heathrow.

I want to see a better Heathrow . A better Heathrow for passengers, for tourists, for the local economy and for local residents. One solution that we are beginning to hear a lot more about is the role of competition in the industry. Historically, Britain has thrived because it has embraced choice and competition. This is because allowing companies to compete against each other on a level playing field encourages another great British quality – innovation. To solve the UK’s airport capacity problems, we need this Great British Innovation.

London Gatwick estimates that the creation of a second runway at Gatwick will bring increased competition across the whole of the London airport system, including both airports and airlines. This could result in benefits to the tune of £14 billion. As well as this, the pressure of competition will drive down costs for passengers. People would begin to see a reduction in air fares. That means cheaper holidays as well as reduced costs for businesses.

Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod with London Mayor Boris Johnson
Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod with London Mayor Boris Johnson

Through an effective system of competing airports, Gatwick argues, we can meet London’s needs better than any other option. That’s two world-class airports, spurred on by competition between each other and the airlines operating in each. To sweeten the deal, Gatwick are saying that expanding Gatwick instead of Heathrow will mean a further 27 destinations available to passengers flying out of London.

And 120,000 new jobs. If you add to this the fact that 15 times more people will be affected by aircraft noise if Heathrow expands instead of Gatwick, and over 1,000% more schools, the arguments become increasingly persuasive.

A two-airport model in London can work. I hope the Airports Commission understands how having two airports can make them both aspire to be world-leading: a much better deal for local residents and businesses alike.