Charles Secrett, Friends of the Earth

One has to take a genuinely objective and strategic approach.

Airports and airlines in this country are massively subsidised to the tune of �7bn every year.

This inflates demand artificially and, therefore, inflates so-called need.

Another runway at Heathrow would stir up huge opposition

Charles Secrett

It's the same situation we saw in the early 1980s with the so-called demand to drive, which just caused chaos.

There are three big environmental and social problems associated with this artificial expansion.

The first is from problems of climate change and the polluting releases from this massive increase in air travel and untaxed fuel. The polluter does not pay.

The second comes from the destruction of designated wildlife habitats and landscapes.

The third is the knock-on development which again threatens the countryside people want to enjoy unspoiled.

I think another runway at Heathrow, for instance, would stir up huge opposition not least because all the way through the inquiry into terminal 5, the government said there would be no more runways.

There needs to be more transparency and honesty.

Digby Jones, director general, Confederation of British Industry

UK airports have worked hard to make better use of existing infrastructure to keep pace with demand.

But London now needs extra airport capacity as part of a long-term aviation policy that is right for all the regions of Britain.

It's important to understand that three new runways is the least that should be done to meet the expected demand.

It is in all our interests the UK is attractive to global investors

Digby Jones

The location of these runways will be a tough decision.

The government must set in train a proper but speedy consultation process to help business and communities decide.

Airport expansion is not just about the south-east.

We need policies to support the development of other regional airports, which are offering an increasing range of services to attract passengers who currently have to travel to south-east England.

It is essential the UK market is as accessible as possible.

It is in all our interests that the UK is attractive to global investors and airport expansion is vital if we are to achieve this.

The government must also find the right balance between aviation needs and social and environmental concerns.

The UK cannot afford for airport infrastructure in 10 years' time to be where the railways are today.