Air travel is set to increase sharply

The company that operates the UK's biggest airports has called for up to three new runways to be built in the south-east of England.

BAA said the government should choose up to three new runways from a shortlist of four:

• A new runway at Heathrow, west London, for short-haul flights
  
• A second runway at Gatwick in Sussex
  
• Two new runways - with the second subject to the success of the first - at Stansted in Essex

It ruled out a third runway at Gatwick and a fourth at Stansted because of the rail links involved.

It also advised against building a new airport at Cliffe in north Kent, currently being considered by the government, claiming it would be financially unviable and environmentally damaging.

The government is currently considering various proposals for expanding UK airport capacity, to meet the huge growth in air travel expected over the next 30 years.

Campaigners dismayed

Mike Clasper, who takes over as BAA chief executive next month, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the new runways would be vital to meet that growth.

"Aviation growth is critical to the national economy. More and more people want to fly. It's become part of the public transport system.

Unless we start planning ahead, then we'll end up with the gridlock and decline that we've got on the railways Mike Clasper, BAA

"And unless we start planning ahead, then we'll end up with the gridlock and decline that we've got on the railways."

Airlines welcomed BAA's proposals, with BA and Virgin Atlantic both stressing in particular the need for a new runway at Heathrow.

But environmental groups said they were dismayed at the "environmental vandalism" being suggested.

Norman Mead, chairman of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign, said: "BAA grossly understates the damage to the environment, both global and local, which would be caused by expansion.

"It simply wants to line its shareholders' pockets, even if it has to concrete over some of England's richest heritage, destroy entire villages... as well as ancient woodlands and important wildlife habitats."

Mr Mead said if the government was determined to build more runways, it should look at the "least worst" options - which he thought were on the Thames and Severn estuaries.

'Tax concessions'

But BAA's Mr Clasper said its proposals could actually minimise the environmental damage involved, as a strong infrastructure already existed to support its three favoured airports.

It would be environmental vandalism on an unprecedented scale Norman Mead, Stop Stansted Expansion Stansted option under fire

"If we were to go into one of these new sites we'd have to start all afresh and build dramatically new infrastructure than would be needed by expanding the existing sites," he said.

John Stewart, chairman of Heathrow-based pressure group Hacan ClearSkies, questioned whether the projected growth needed to be met at all.

"Government can manage demand. At present it is being artificially created through the huge tax concessions the aviation industry receives each year.

"The research shows that if aviation fuel was to be taxed at the same rate as fuel for cars, there would be no need for any further runways."

Noise problems

Steve Hounsham, spokesman for environmental group Transport 2000, pointed out that as the manager of airports, BAA clearly had "vested interests".

If aviation fuel was to be taxed at the same rate as fuel for cars, there would be no need for any further runways John Stewart, Hacan ClearSkies

He also called for air travel demand to be managed, saying: "There are social and environmental problems associated with increased aviation, not least the noise problems on the ground, pollution and growing contribution to climate change."

Plans under consideration by the government for airport expansion in the South-East include: