Converting unused RAF bases into commercial airports and possibly building a new airport in north Kent are further suggestions disclosed in the government's consultation document.

The number of British people taking flights may treble within 20 years and proposals to meet demand include turning smaller airports like Glasgow, Southampton and Cardiff into international hubs.

The ideas are strongly opposed by environmental groups who say that the ever-increasing demand cannot continually be met and that the government needs to reduce air travel.

Residents near larger airports face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stress-induced changes in the immune system, loss of sleep and more aggression.

How do you feel about the environmental impact of bigger airports? Would you like to see air traffic reduced? Does Britain need larger airports to compete with Europe?

This Talking Point was suggested by Paul Starling, England:

"With the government concerned about the cost of living/housing in the South East does it make sense to build yet another airport there?"

If you have any suggestions for Talking Points,

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

The reason that Heathrow is such an important airport is because it is the world's major hub. You can fly from anywhere to anywhere via Heathrow. The fact that the hub is here has massive benefits for Britain as it makes us attractive to international businesses. Expanding Heathrow does not mean more access roads are needed, and adding a runway to a regional airport will have no effect on congestion in Heathrow's existing terminals. Roll on terminal 5, and even 6!
Guy Hammond, England

If you are going to extend the South East's airports then Stansted must be the logical choice.

James Pittman, England

If you are going to extend the South East's airports then Stansted must be the logical choice. There is more open space than the other South East sites and fewer nearby residents to upset. In addition there are excellent transport links both road and train. Stansted is probably the most overlooked airport in the region where all the attention is given to Heathrow and Gatwick
James Pittman, England

I'm supposed to restrict my car driving because I'm polluting, huge tax is put on the petrol I use to reinforce the message. Air transport is subsidised by having no tax on fuel despite it causing pollution that is even more damaging than my car. There is something very wrong with us just going along with this expansion because numbers "may treble". Could I have some evidence please - of both why the number may treble and also of why we should not discourage it?
Janice, England

I moved near to Gatwick 30 years ago and understood the implications of living near an airport. Compared to then, aircraft are far quieter and produce less pollution. People should welcome any expansion as this provides much needed growth and employment opportunities to the surrounding areas. Whether we build South or North we should encourage this sort of programme. Maybe to appease the NIMBY's we should build offshore airports like the Japanese - although people would just moan we are frightening the seals.
Nick S, UK

The idea of spreading the load around London to take the pressure off Heathrow is laudable, but there must be an equal investment in (cheap) transport too - the cost of the Heathrow Express from Paddington is far too high and inconvenient to use for people having to cross London. I fear a similar fate for the new airport at Cliffe (Kent) unless it is connected directly (i.e. without having to use the underground) to all major railway termini.
Philip Lewis, England

We need more Airports, not bigger ones.

Tim, UK

Yes we need bigger airports but not Heathrow. I use Stansted whenever possible, It's easy to get to and relatively quiet. I hate it when the only flights out are from Gatwick or Heathrow. We need more Airports, not bigger ones. London City is brilliant but is ignored as one of "London's" airports despite being the only one with a London Postcode while it's perfectly OK to call Luton a London airport.
Tim, UK

The best way to increase capacity in the south east of England is to build a huge new airport in the Thames estuary, as was proposed back in the 1970's on Maplin Sands. It could have many runways and terminals, it would be away from populated areas and access to it could be restricted to public transport. I feel this to be the best long term option.
Paul Palmer, England

I seem to recall learning that the worlds supply of fossil fuels is likely to run out within the next 40 years, including oil from which aviation fuel derives. As this supply dwindles, prices must go up and eventually all aviation will be banned; therefore the number of people flying will surely start to decrease in about 20 years time. Once again, our country and heritage is sacrificed by greedy politicians with nothing but short term 'profit' vision.
R Callister, UK

Our homes would be flattened, our communities wiped out.

Donna Bowman, London

I am against the proposal of a third runway at Heathrow - as a resident in one of the villages and an airline employee at Heathrow. This expansion would affect me directly. Three schools would be destroyed, our homes would be flattened, our communities wiped out. What price do we have to pay for profit? All the promises made during the T5 enquiry were rubbish. Where will it end?
Donna Bowman, London, UK

Funny how people automatically assume that travelling by car or plane is some automatic and unquestionable liberty. But by the time the marshes have been drained and concreted, and the woods and fields tarmacced over it'll be too late to do anything about it. Besides that, planes don't exactly do good things to the environment themselves. Leave things like they are, and set a limit on air travel to and from the UK.
Daen de Leon, Denmark

For too long Heathrow has been seen as the only place to fly from if you want to fly outside of Europe. Heathrow needs Terminal 5 to relieve the pressure on the other four terminals. Just because a new terminal is being built doesn't actually mean an increase in air traffic. In the case of Terminal 5, the idea is to move some of the traffic away from the central area to another location.

With regards another runway at some airports, in some cases they are needed if only to provide relief for those below the flightpaths. Airports have to grow to cope with demand. The focus should be taken off Heathrow and placed on those airports that are able to expand.
Nick, UK

Air congestion over London is already significant and there isn't any more sky.

Nigel, England

We certainly need more air transport capacity but expanding the 2 main London airports isn't the answer. Air congestion over London is already significant and there isn't any more sky. I think we need more regional airports. Many people have difficulty getting to a main airport by train. Please, please can we have an airport in Milton Keynes? OK, just outside the city will do, with flights to the US and popular Mediterranean destinations.
Nigel, England

Proper development of Southampton airport is long overdue. Economic growth is hampered by lack of contemporary European links. Business people should be able to fly to powerhouse centres like Milan, D�sseldorf, Munich. Growth of holiday flights would reduce longer car journeys to Gatwick, Luton etc. I could go on.
Nicholas Lacey, UK

If you want to keep jobs they need to expand. France, Germany, and the Netherlands are eager to take away any business you don't want. Jets are cleaner and quieter than ever, and will continue to improve. There is no choice, expand or die...
Simon Martin-Dye, Ohio, USA

Air travel is highly polluting and its use should be minimised. Every person and business should seek alternatives such as using improved communication technology for more meetings, and going on local holidays.
Dan, UK

It is air traffic control which concerns me.

Aaron Hill, Scotland

I am for the expansion of airports, especially the regional hubs, but it is air traffic control which concerns me. It seems that they are struggling at the present capacity. How will they cope with expansion without a huge investment? I feel that this issue has been overlooked in all the publicity so far.
Aaron Hill, Scotland

Good to see the suggestion that Southampton and some of the regional airports being selected for development. The more that smaller airports can take traffic away from Heathrow the better. Not every passenger wishes to connect with international flights but wants a European or UK destination. Road and rail links which are already in place at Southampton are excellent and if the runway could be extended to the north, slightly larger aircraft could land, increasing the availability of extra capacity and destinations. Good proposals - lets see some action!.
Neil woods, England

As one of the many people who live in this country outside of the South East, I feel that the building of yet another airport around London (or indeed the expansion of existing airports) to be yet another snub for the rest of the UK. I am a frequent flyer and object to having to travel to London for a large number of my flights. Investment should be made in the regional airports to encourage investment and development in these areas, and develop the smaller airports (such as Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds) into hubs.
Carl Ball, England

It really is time the Government took a brave stand and build at sea

David McCartney, England

I live within a few hundred yards of the perimeter of Heathrow Airport. I knew it was here when I moved here. I knew that Terminal 5 was likely when I moved here. However, I am against further development of Heathrow. The airport is totally surrounded by built-up areas and to just continue expanding outwards is not an option. Five villages, many fine churches with notable burials, and a tithe barn dating back to Medieval times will all make way for concrete. It really is time the Government took a brave stand and build at sea, as Hong Kong and others have done.
David McCartney, England

I believe that regional airports like Bristol should be developed further to take some of the demand away from the south east. The benefits of increased jobs and more money in the local economies, less car and train journeys would benefit the environment in general.
Kevin Watkins, England

People need to realise that aviation and aircraft are at the forefront of science and technology. No other industry has come so far so fast in the hundred years since its creation than the aviation industry. Expansion plans are merely the small price we must pay to keep up with this rapidly advancing world and technology. These lobby groups and "anti-everything" protestors need to decided whether there is somewhere else their attention can be directed because by constantly appealing against every decision they are slowing down progress and withholding our potential as a world leader in trade, aviation and economics.
Markus Scott, UK

There are so many aircraft in the sky today that many people live under some sort of air route. In North London, planes go overhead my flat at around 4,000 feet on initial approach to Heathrow. People who live under houses on final approach flight paths pay significantly less for such properties, and know the factors involved when they are buying. That they should then try to hold the UK's economic expansion to ransom is wrong. The UK needs as much airport capacity as it can manage - it creates jobs, aids industry and increases the options of the badly-hit airline operations.
Simon, London, UK

I am now moving from my home to Oxfordshire in search of more peaceful surroundings.

Rachael, London

I currently live two miles north of Heathrow and would be one of those directly hit by the expansion plans for a third runway. Despite this, I agree that if the UK is to retain its place as one of the world's "superpowers", it needs the airports to go with it. Future growth is inevitable, and this runway is badly needed, not least for safety reasons. I am now moving from my home to Oxfordshire in search of more peaceful surroundings.
Rachael, London, UK

Why are we constantly being told that we need to expand in order to compete with other countries? What difference does it make whether or not we are capable of attracting more passengers? England is a tiny country and is rapidly running out of space. People will still want to come to this country and fly from it regardless of our position in the European league. Surely we do not need to inflict more pollution, noise and danger on our own citizens just to satisfy big business and a government set on yet higher targets in order to gain votes.
Hendrik Woolf, England

If you double the capacity of Londons Airports you will have to double the access routes. As most of these routes are by road this will mean a massive increase in the size of our Motorways. Another point is security. Do we really want to have double the amount of aircraft flying over London after what happened on September 11th? What happened to the idea of a coastal airport, with landings and take offs over the sea? It could be connected to the capital by a high speed rail link. At least that wouldn't cause too much pollution.
Peter H. Dorrington, England

It amuses me that three months ago when LHR Terminal 5 was approved, the prospect of runway expansion was denied. Clearly the people involved are not to be believed! I live under an occasional flight path, taken into account when I selected the property, but I would object to an increase in traffic.
David Roberts, UK

The area is not suitable anymore for further expansion

Phil Eadie, UK

Living in Hounslow all my life (I am now 37) I supported the building of both T4 and T5. The airport was there, people had moved there knowing that, better there than causing pain to another group. A third runway is a different proposition. Three villages (2 going back to the Domesday Book) will be demolished and a totally new set of people in West London (who did not expect it when they moved there) will be blighted by a new flightpath. I am not a NIMBY, a third runway would probably take the strain of the existing flightpaths and benefit me (at least in the short-term), but the area is not suitable anymore for further expansion and those who feel it is should try living 2 miles from the end of one of the existing runways before trying to suggest that those who do are a pack of moaning minnies.
Phil Eadie, UK

Yes we definitely need bigger airports. As long as they don't put them anywhere near where I live.
Paul Bennett, UK

The UK holds the licences for the transglobal stops of all the major airlines. Hence this is why we have the busiest skies in the world. To compete and comply we must upgrade our infrastructure. A lot of employment comes from this so why not increase the airports in the North of England. It will be well received after such a lack of investment there for the last ten years.
Simon Doderer, England

If people want to fly, make them pay a more socially responsible price

George, UK

Aircraft are the most polluting of all forms of transport. A surcharge should be placed on all flights from the UK to reduce the number of flights and help fund more environmentally friendly forms of transport. Package holidays abroad are too cheap and dissuade people from holidaying in the UK. If people want to fly, make them pay a more socially responsible price.
George, UK

Living not far from Stansted, I can definitely say NO. The government never seems to take into account people's health in the surrounding villages or the extra threat of plane crashes such as the one in Hatfield forest where villages were only just missed.
Bill, UK

What utter hypocrisy from Mr Darling. Last week we were told by his minions that in order to cope with overcrowding on the railways there was "no option" but massive fare increases to kill off demand. When it's airports, there's "no option" but to hand out millions to the airlines.
Julian Hayward, UK

We need long term plans

Martin Smith, England

The UK currently has numerous "disused" airfields piled high with overproduced new cars. We don't need "more airports" or "more roads" or "more railways", we need long term plans to use what we already have more effectively.
Martin Smith, England

Whilst I agree that the UK requires more runways, why do they all have to be down in the SE? Why not expand some of the smaller regional airport, such as Liverpool and East Midlands? This will reduce airspace congestion around London, and also generate wealth in other parts of the country. This in turn may encourage companies to build plants away from the SE, which may have the knock-on effect of reducing the need for the government to waste cash on cheap housing in the SE.
Mike, UK

What a contrast in government attitude between roads and air travel! Millions of people struggle to go about their everyday business on the UK's inadequate roads, whereas we seem able to "predict and provide" for the few thousand each day who want to fly in or out (or even, in a lot of cases, only through) the country.
Brian W, UK

I'd like to see it be the case that nobody needs to travel for more than 30 minutes to reach an international airport

David Moran, Scotland/Australia

Yes, the UK does need more airport infrastructure. I'd like to see it be the case that nobody needs to travel for more than 30 minutes to reach an international airport. I find it odd that the environmentalists are against the development of more public-transport infrastructure like airports. I'd have thought they'd be overjoyed at the prospect of stopping people driving from Dover to Edinburgh if they could fly instead.
David Moran, Scotland/Australia

Simon Ould presumably lives nowhere near any of these airport sites. If he had the slightest inkling of how much distress is caused by air traffic he would not only be against building more runways, he would also want the existing ones closed.
Phil, UK

Like Simon I think that England needs another international airport. However with Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton already serving the South East I question the need to place another one there. By building/expanding an international airport in the North (Leeds/York, Birmingham, East Midlands or Newcastle) it would not only act as a catalyst to regenerate northern cities, it would also save the population of the North having to travel to London every time they want to fly outside of Europe, thus easing congestion on the roads, trains and at the airports.
Paul Starling, England

I firmly believe that the UK needs to invest in its airport infrastructure. The South East of England urgently needs at least one more runway to build capacity and anticipate future growth. Aviation is one of the UK economy's great success stories (BA profits apart!) and we need to ensure we stay competitive, especially in the face of big competition abroad.
Simon Ould, England