Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson has called for the UK government to invest in at least four new runways at London’s airports – two each at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Branson stated that current expansion plans were insufficient, and said that even with four additional runways, an entirely new London airport would also be needed within 20 years in order to maintain global competition.
Branson said: "We urgently need those extra runways at Heathrow and Gatwick or [the UK economy] will go backwards.”
The currently-proposed runway expansion plans are limited to one new runway at Heathrow, which is expected to cost £17bn. A new runway at Gatwick would be expected to cost £7.8bn.
Branson's call for more runways is echoed by business chiefs. Confederation of British Industry director John Cridland stated that if the UK is to hit the Government's target of doubling exports to £1 trillion by 2020, airports around the entire country will require expansion.