Page 20 - ATA

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 26 June 2018

UK lawmakers approve big expansion for Heathrow Airport

By DANICA KIRKA keep fighting against the
LONDON (AP) — Parlia- runway.
ment approved plans to "Some of my critics have
make Europe's biggest air- suggested that I should
port even bigger, backing resign over the issue. No
on Monday what the gov- doubt they have my best
ernment described as the interests at heart," the
most important transporta- newspaper quoted him as
tion decision in a genera- saying. "But it is clear from
tion. what is likely to be a large
The House of Commons majority of (lawmakers)
voted overwhelmingly, 415- who are in favor of a third
119, to build a third runway runway that my resignation
at Heathrow Airport after would have achieved ab-
hours of debate on the solutely nothing."
14 billion-pound ($18.6 bil- Business groups were elat-
lion) project. The decision ed at a decision that took
follows decades of study decades of debate.
and argument over how "The race for global com-
to expand airport capac- petitiveness is well under-
ity in southeastern England, way and the UK must now
and it is certain to be chal- be quick off the mark - work
lenged in the courts. In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 5, 2018, a plane takes off over a road sign near Heathrow on the new runway should
Prime Minister Theresa May Airport in London. start as soon as possible."
believes the project will Associated Press Said Carolyn Fairbairn, the
boost economic growth director general of trade
while signaling the coun- of debate and set, to my of the towns under the air- once pledged to lie down group, the CBI. "The prize
try's commitment to ex- mind, a clear path to our port's flight path. in front of bulldozers to stop is tens of thousands of jobs
pand international trade future as a global nation in London Mayor Sadiq Khan the expansion, avoided and billions of pounds of
and transport links as it pre- the post-Brexit world." has pledged to join local a confrontation with the growth for the British econ-
pares to leave the Europe- Opponents object to the government councils in fil- prime minister because he omy.
an Union. third runway on environ- ing legal action seeking to was visiting Afghanistan on Some airline CEOs quickly
Neighbors and environ- mental, noise and financial block the expansion and Monday. applauded the decision.
mentalists object because grounds. Friends of the Earth has said Heathrow already His absence did not go un- Craig Kreeger, CEO of Vir-
of concerns about pollu- described it as a "morally exposes the city to more noticed. Opposition leader gin Atlantic, said the vote
tion, noise and the commu- reprehensible" move that aircraft noise than Paris, Jeremy Corbyn said John- sent "a strong signal to the
nities — some dating back would result in Heathrow Frankfurt, Amsterdam, son, who represents the world that we're open for
hundreds of years — that emitting as much carbon Munich and Madrid com- Uxbridge and South Ruislip business."
will be destroyed. as the whole of Portugal. bined. He argues that the constituency near Heath- But the view was not univer-
Business groups strongly Greenpeace said that if project would also push row, should resign. sal. Willie Walsh, the CEO of
backed the government. ministers wouldn't protect toxic emissions above legal "If he is unable to be pres- IAG, the parent company
They argued that increas- people from toxic air, op- limits. ent, then we have to ask of British Airways, said Par-
ing the capacity at Heath- ponents would ask a court "This will be a critical mo- the question what on Earth liament had little idea of
row would be tantamount to do so. ment, and for the sake of is he doing and who is he the costs involved.
to putting out an "open for John Stewart, a longtime Londoners affected by representing?" Corbyn said. "We have zero confidence
business" sign as Britain pre- opponent of Heathrow ex- poor air quality, disruption Shouts of "Where's Boris?" in Heathrow's manage-
pares to leave the Europe- pansion, took to Twitter to from noise and the costs could be heard in the ment's ability to deliver
an Union. lament that the new run- needed to improve trans- Commons as lawmakers this project while keeping
"This is a really important way had become a gov- port connections, I will do spoke out against Heath- airport charges flat," he
moment in the history of this ernment policy. what I can to stop these row expansion plans. said, adding that IAG was
House and the history of this "A third runway will turn poor plans," Khan said in a Johnson, in a letter to looking to the regulator,
country," Transport Secre- peaceful areas of London statement. councilors in his parliamen- the CAA, "to fulfil its role
tary Chris Grayling told the & the Home Counties into May directed Conservative tary district obtained by the to protect consumers and
House of Commons as he torrents of noise as planes Party lawmakers to vote for Evening Standard newspa- stop Heathrow rewarding
appealed for lawmakers pass over at a rate of 1 the project. Foreign Sec- per, said that staying in the its shareholders to the detri-
to "move on from decades every 90 seconds," he said retary Boris Johnson, who Cabinet would allow him to ment of the UK."q