John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport is hoping that post-UK election political bargaining will help drive through a third runway at the London airport. The third runway issue has been taken off the election campaign table since the airports commission has delayed its verdict until two months after the election. If there is a hung parliament, as is widely expected, Holland-Kaye believes that there has been a swell of support for expansion across all the parties.
He added: "I was encouraged by all the major parties' commitment to engage with the Davies commission. Two Northern Ireland parties have put it in their manifesto that they are backing Heathrow."
Although, the Scottish National party, has not backed either Gatwick or Heathrow expansion, Holland-Kaye stated that Scotland has “a huge amount to gain, through more connection, competition and new routes", which would mean thousands of extra jobs in Scotland through new connections.
Even though the Liberal Democrats have opposed expansion of Heathrow, Holland-Kaye doesn’t see it as a red line issue for the coalition party.