In reply to Robert Durran:
Sit on a plane belonging to a major air carrier anywhere in the world and pick up the magazine and there is usually a set of maps of major world airports. They all look well-planned and logically laid out ... except one. Yes, you guessed it, London Heathrow.
Heathrow is a nighmare.
The alternative? Encourage more traffic to other airports and develop those airports appropriately.
Imagination and vision may be necessary which, considering we have a Conservative government, may be asking a lot.
For a start, we need one airport in Scotland with a two 4000m runways and one in the north of England with two 4000m runways. Then we need effective rail connections for both of those and recognition of the possibility of further development.
Manchester already has two big 3000m runways, a good railway connection, gone the tunnel route for roads, an effective freight operation, and has no large conurbation under the normal take-off direction. Good job guys.
£18bn and we still don't get a sensible logical airport? Idiots.