Heathrow’s plan, which would include a controversial third runway and costs an estimated £15.6bn, would also see a 600-metre, 14 lane tunnel replace an existing section of the M25 – and the airport says it would pay out more compensation to those whose homes would have to be demolished (some 750 homes) to make room for a third runway.
It says the plan would create 100,000 new jobs and would result in 40 new direct, daily routes.
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Gatwick’s expansion meanwhile is cheaper – costing around £7.8bn – and would “deliver extra capacity at a lower cost”.
It says a two-runway Gatwick in competition with a two-runway Heathrow would also encourage competition between airlines and airports and result in lower fares for passengers.
It calculates that the UK economy would be better off by up to £30 billion over 60 years.
The plans will be presented to the Airport Commission, who’ll choose the winner – but no recommendation will be made until 2015.
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