The British government wants to expand Heathrow Airport in London

London - British Minister Ruth Kelly today announced plans to expand London's main Heathrow airport with a third runway and likely a sixth terminal building. This is expected to increase the airport's capacity from the current 480,000 flights per year to 700,000.
The government plans will certainly face opposition from environmental organizations that want to limit air traffic in the island kingdom, and from local residents around the airport, who have always opposed any expansion plans.
Heathrow will open its fifth terminal in the spring of next year. This largest European airport is trying to maintain its leading position, but according to Ruth Kelly's remarks today, it is now operating at practically one hundred percent capacity, which means that any problem immediately causes difficulties for a large number of passengers.
Moreover, the British economy, according to her, necessarily needs the airport not only as a source of nearly 200,000 jobs but primarily as one of the engines of international trade. "If nothing happens, Heathrow will begin to lose its reputation as a world-class airport, people will lose their jobs, and the economy will suffer," the minister stated in a written notice to parliament.
The total cost of the project is currently estimated at about nine billion pounds (around 360 billion crowns), but according to BAA, the company that manages the airport, it should bring roughly the same amount to the economy each year. Public consultations will begin next year and a final decision on the construction should also be made before the end of the year.
London, in addition to Heathrow, is served by four smaller airports - Gatwick, Stansted, City Airport, and Luton.