CBI wants five new runways across South East

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will today (Monday) submit its proposals for additional runways at Heathrow and Stansted and three more across the South East as part of the government's Air Transport White Paper due out next Autumn.

Defending its decision, which is expected to fuel local outrage against the schemes, the CBI said that the extension work was crucial for Heathrow Airport to remain a global hub airport with the capacity to suit business needs.

In its submission to the Whitehall document, which will map out the UK aviation industry for the next 30 years, the CBI believes the first runway will be needed at Heathrow Airport by 2015 and the second at Stansted Airport before 2020.

Three new runways will also be needed in the South East to fully utilise the UK's existing aviation infrastructure.

However the CBI rejects proposals for a new runway in Cliffe, adding that it "would not be cost effective" to develop a new site from scratch.

CBI director general Digby Jones said: "The South East has the strongest market for UK aviation. The CBI wants the government to encourage greater use of regional airports to meet local demand."