Heathrow6.45% S Regulatory News (88BX)

For immediate release:

Heathrow to work with Government to deliver expanded hub airport within environmental limits

· Heathrow has full confidence that expansion can be delivered within environmental limits

· The Government has validated the Airports Commission's findings which gave a unanimous and unambiguous recommendation for Heathrow expansion

· Heathrow has huge support both locally and nationally from business, trade unions, politicians, the UK aviation industry and is ready to deliver

Heathrow said today that it has full confidence in its new expansion plan and pledged to work with Government to deliver Britain the hub capacity it needs within tough environmental limits.

Government's announcement to progress Heathrow's expansion and undertake further environmental research follows the unanimous and unambiguous recommendation of the Airports Commission this summer after a two and a half year, £20m study - the deepest ever into UK aviation capacity. The Commission confirmed that expanding Heathrow would have the biggest economic benefits for the UK and can be done while reducing noise for local communities and within EU air quality limits.

Expanding Heathrow will give Britain up to 40 more long haul destinations, such as Wuhan, Osaka and Panama City, making it the best connected country in the world. It will more than double the number of domestic routes served, ensuring every region and nation of the UK can get to global markets and, increase cargo capacity, supporting Britain's exporters. This will result in up to £211bn of economic growth, 180,000 jobs and 10,000 apprenticeships spread across the whole of Britain.

Expansion of Heathrow is backed by business, trade unions, politicians and airlines as the best solution to Britain's aviation capacity crunch. Supporters include the CBI, BCC, chambers of commerce across the country, Unite, the GMB, 37 British airports and airlines such as easyJet, which plans to operate from an expanded Heathrow. Independent polling has shown that expansion has strong support in local constituencies.

Heathrow is confident that its plans meet tough environmental conditions and will move into the delivery phase. Logistics hubs are planned across the UK.

The news will put in motion billions of pounds of contracts for British companies, including SMEs, to deliver the largest privately financed infrastructure project in the country.

John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport said:

"The Airports Commission, announced by the Prime Minister three years ago, made a unanimous and unambiguous recommendation in June for Heathrow expansion.

"Our new plan will connect the whole nation to global growth while providing opportunities for the local community and making Heathrow the most environmentally responsible hub airport in the world. I am confident we can meet tough environmental standards."

 "We have support locally and nationally from politicians, business, trade unions and the aviation industry for Heathrow expansion. Let's get on and build a better future for Britain."

<>